James Perrine Darst 1845-1932

James Perrine Darst, the son of John Darst (1818-1895) of Eureka, Illinois; the grandson of Jacob Darst (1785-1852) of Beavercreek TWP., Greene CO., Ohio; the great-grandson of Samuel Derst (1754-1791) and great-great-grandson of Abraham Derst (1725-1772), our Pfeddersheim, Germany immigrant was witness to the tragic death of young Hazel Towne ...

FATE OF HAZEL TOWNE

Further Particulars Of the Sad Accident at Peoria on Monday Afternoon

Mention was made in the Herald-Dispatch yesterday morning of the accident which befel Little Hazel Towne of Harristown while visiting at Peoria. The Transcript gives the particulars of the accident as follows:

"Little Hazel Towne, aged 7 years, met a horrible fate yesterday, dying as the result of a severe burning received at the residence of James P. Darst, 121 Moss avenue.

She had gone with her mother to spend the day with the family of Mr. Darst, With her mother and older sister she had come a week ago from their home in Harristown, eight miles from Decatur, to visit the family of Rev, P. McKnight, pastor of the Central Christian church. While she and her sister were playing in the alley with the Darst children and other children of the neighborhood they got hold of some matches. Here dress caught fire from a burning match and she ran out into the street screaming, her clothes aflame. The other children had just gone into a neighboring yard, leaving her alone for an instant, and her cries attracted the attention of her mother, Mrs. Darst and others, who hurried to her assistance. The flames were extinguished as quickly as possible and Dr. R. W. Baker and F. C. Boarscheidt were summoned at once.

"The little one was carried into the house and the physicians found that her body from the waist up and her arms were frightfully burned. Everything possible was done to relieve her suffering but the shock and the injury were too severe and she died at 10:50 last night in a spasm. The accident occured at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

"The mother was almost distracted and the accident was a terrible shock to her friends and to all others who knew of it. The little one was an unusually bright sweet child and her horrible fate is greatly to be deplored. It has been only a few months since the funeral of Charles O. Clarke's little daughter who met exactly the same fate, was held at the Clarke residence on the same avenue.

"The body of the child remains at the residence of Mr. Darst. Mr. Towne was notified soon after the accident but the funeral arrangements have not been made."

Saturday, 16 JUL 1898 - Herald Dispatch, Decatur, Illinois