Daily Ardmoreite. (Ardmore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 1, No. 214, Ed. 1 Tuesday, July 10, 1894 carries a sad story on its front page of a woman who committed suicide in east Ardmore. She left behind a letter she had received from a brother in law that had 'blasted' her and the two letters she wrote to him and to her estranged husband. Then, she laid down on a bed, placed a chloroform cloth over her face and died. She was known as Vivia Gale alias Rose Welch.
The newspaper alleged she was a fallen woman, who had been widely known the year before playing piano for a musical comedy troupe, but her letter indicate that perhaps more was going on in her life and that truly she was a victim of circumstances facing a woman on her own.
Her brother in law was identified in the article and the letter as J.M. Barton of Iowa Park, Texas and her husband as John Gale of Butte, Montana.
The news writer was quick to point out that she was a fine example of womanhood and did not appear as many in that life but left the reader with the assurance she was indeed such a woman of ill repute. Strangely, townfolk, allegedly stepped forward to give her a decent burial but the second news article carrying that story does not say where she was buried or who may have shown the 'Christian charity' such an act required.
It was a sad tale and one that may answer the questions of distant relatives of these individuals. Attempts to locate a grave for the woman have so far met with no success. If anyone knows more about this grave and these people, I would love to hear more.
All in all it is a cautionary tale for all that forgiveness is the best gift we can give another human being and charity should be for everyone and not a select few..
