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Letter to Editor
February 16, 1739
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In a letter to Mr. Parks dated December 20, 1738, from Isle of Wight County, Nicholas Bourden describes a tragic accident on December 13 where a boiling 20-gallon kettle fell due to a broken sway-pole, scalding his only child and a Negro child (the latter died), urging publication as a warning to prevent similar incidents in other families.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
Isle of Wight County, Dec. 20, 1738.
Mr. Parks,
The Publication of the following unhappy Accident, may be a Means to prevent the like in other Families, which I hope will be a Warning to all; and desire it may be inserted in your Gazette, for the Public Good.
On Wednesday the Thirteenth of this Instant, I intended to kill some Hogs, and accordingly put a Kettle of Water, containing 20 Gallons, over the Fire, for that Purpose; and when the Water was boiling, none being in the Kitchen but my only Child and a Negro Child, the Sway-pole broke, and scalded them to such a Degree, that 'twas a most horrid Spectacle, and must have mov'd the most obdurate. The Negro Child is dead, but my own Child, I hope, is in a fair Way of Recovery, tho prodigiously scalded: My Wife very narrowly escaped the same Fate; for she had not gone three Steps from the Kitchen Door, before the Kettle fell down, when She sat on her Hams, putting some Potatoes in the Fire for the Children: The Children were both in the Corner when the Kettle fell, or it must have been present Death.
I am, Sir,
Your humble Servant,
Nicholas Bourden.
Mr. Parks,
The Publication of the following unhappy Accident, may be a Means to prevent the like in other Families, which I hope will be a Warning to all; and desire it may be inserted in your Gazette, for the Public Good.
On Wednesday the Thirteenth of this Instant, I intended to kill some Hogs, and accordingly put a Kettle of Water, containing 20 Gallons, over the Fire, for that Purpose; and when the Water was boiling, none being in the Kitchen but my only Child and a Negro Child, the Sway-pole broke, and scalded them to such a Degree, that 'twas a most horrid Spectacle, and must have mov'd the most obdurate. The Negro Child is dead, but my own Child, I hope, is in a fair Way of Recovery, tho prodigiously scalded: My Wife very narrowly escaped the same Fate; for she had not gone three Steps from the Kitchen Door, before the Kettle fell down, when She sat on her Hams, putting some Potatoes in the Fire for the Children: The Children were both in the Corner when the Kettle fell, or it must have been present Death.
I am, Sir,
Your humble Servant,
Nicholas Bourden.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Emotional
Ethical Moral
What themes does it cover?
Health Medicine
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Scalding Accident
Child Injury
Public Warning
Hog Killing
Kitchen Mishap
Isle Of Wight County
What entities or persons were involved?
Nicholas Bourden
Mr. Parks
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Nicholas Bourden
Recipient
Mr. Parks
Main Argument
the publication of this scalding accident involving children should serve as a warning to prevent similar tragedies in other families.
Notable Details
Accident Occurred On Wednesday, December 13, 1738
Kettle Contained 20 Gallons Of Boiling Water For Hog Killing
Sway Pole Broke, Causing Kettle To Fall
Negro Child Died; Writer's Child Hoped To Recover
Wife Narrowly Escaped By Stepping Away Moments Before