The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 13, 1904

Women Thrown Into Street

Mrs. Herman Rose and Mother in a Runaway.

Horse Became Frightened at an Automobile and Upsets Buggy Throw in (sic) Out Occupants.

The third accident which has occurred during the past week as a result of a horse becoming frightened at an automobile, took place Monday night at the corner of Twelfth street and Second avenue south, when Mrs. Herman Rose and mother, Mrs. Nedderman, while driving, were thrown from the carriage to the street. While not seriously injured they were all badly bruised. Mrs. Rose has a bruised elbow and shoulder and Mrs. Nedderman’s face and shoulders are lacerated. The horse also received several cuts.

When the auto, which is owned by Mrs. Johanna Hyde, first loomed up, the horse at once began to rear. Mrs. Hyde slowed up the machine which caused it to emit a grinding noise which so badly frightened the animal that it leaped across the curbing, upsetting the buggy and throwing the occupants intot he street. Considering its age, the escape of the babe is miraculous. Fortunately passers by quickly picked up the injured people and stopped the horse before it had gone far enough to do further harm.

(Editor’s note: I have to confess, this account leaves me puzzled. In the last paragraph, this sentence: “Considering its age, the escape of the babe is miraculous” seems to come out of nowhere. What babe? Was there a child in the buggy? It is the only reference to anyone other than Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Nedderman in the carriage.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 12, 1904

Several Are Hurt in Lively Runaways

Two Runaways of a Serious Nature Take Place Monday Afternoon.

Mrs. Isaac Garmoe a Victim

With Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Fibbs She is Thrown Out of Carriage – Mrs. R.M. Wright Hurt in Runaway of Team.

An accident which came nearly terminating seriously occurred Monday afternoon on tenth street and Fifth avenue north. Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Fibbs and Mrs. Isaac Garmoe were riding in the Fibbs’ carriage on Fifth avenue north and they noticed an automobile standing near the curbing. Mr. Fibbs realized that the horse would become frightened if the automobile was started and asked the person in charge not to start it until the horse had passed them. Misunderstanding the request, the operator started it forward. This frightened the horse so that he turned around and overturned the carriage, throwing the occupants onto the paving. The noise of the machine frightened the horse still more and it started off dragging the occupants of the carriage several feet before breaking loose, leaving the buggy upset with the occupants pinned beneath it.

Mrs. Garmoe Painfully Hurt.

People in the vicinity were attracted by the accident and assisted the injured people from beneath the buggy. For some time it was thought that Mrs. Garmoe was badly injured and a report was circulated that she could not live, but this is false. Although she was very painfully hurt she is in no danger. Mr. Fibbs also suffered a very severe cut over his eye and a doctor had to be called for him. One eye and the fact of Mrs. Garmoe was badly scraped, and her right arm cut. The back of her neck was bruised and her right leg was also bruised and the knee of the left leg was quite badly lacerated. Mr. Fibb’s (sic) greatest injury was to his eye. Mrs. Fibbs escaped with several minor bruises.

Accident Made More Serious.

The accident is all the more to be deplored, because of the condition of Mr. Garmoe, who underwent an operation last week. He has not yet been informed as to the seriousness of the accident. Mrs. Garmoe is at present confined to her bed, but it is thought that she will be able to be up in a few days.

Mrs. R.M. Wright injured.

Mrs. R.M. Wright was thrown from her buggy while driving in the sough part of the city Monday afternoon and suffered a severely wrenched hip and badly bruised shoulder.

The horses driven by Mrs. Wright are a lively pair and have run away twice before. This time while coming east on Thirs avenue south, one of the animals kicked over the pole, when the team became unmanageable. Mrs. Wright was thrown from the buggy almost immediately and the team ran only a block before being stopped. The carriage was badly smashed.

Mrs. Wright, although badly bruised, was able to pick herself up and was taken immediately to her home, where she received medical attendance. She will be able to get about in a few days.

(Editor’s note: This is another article that goes into somewhat gory detail of the exact extent of the injuries suffered.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 9, 1903

Baby Dead as Result of Runaway

Little Child of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hanson of Duncombe Was Buried Today.

Terrible Injury to the Skull

Operation Disclosed Fact That Skull Was Broken Open Half Way Around So That Finger Could Be Inserted Into Aperture.

Grief stricken parents and sorrowing friends this morning followed the body of the little baby boy of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hanson of Duncombe to its last resting place. The baby died on Tuesday night as a result of injuries received in a runaway accident a week ago last Saturday.

The child received terrible injuries to the head, which were not discovered u ntil Tuesday, when Dr. Evans was called and performed the operation which was the last chance of saving the little life.

The doctor found that the skull had been forced apart from a point beginning at the right ear, and extending to the back of the head. A finger could be laid in the gaping aperture.

The injury ahd gone so long, that the brain had become infected, and the doctor did all that could be done, removing the blood clots and infected brain tissue and putting in drainage. Medical skill was in vain, however, and death came at 9 o’clock the same night.

While driving to Fort Dodge on Saturday, June 29, Mr. and Mrs. Hanson and their little child were thrown violently from their buggy by the unexpected shying of their horse. Mr.s Hanson was somewhat bruised in the fall, but is recovering nicely, altho almost broken-hearted over the accident which has caused the death of the little one.

Mr. Hanson’s mother lives in Fort Dodge.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 6, 1903

(Editor’s note: None of the local papers published on major holidays or Sundays. The Messenger didn’t go to a full seven-day-a-week schedule until the 1980s. In addition, this occurred on a Saturday, so there was no paper that year until July 6. Be aware, some of the article lists specifics of injuries to Clara Rasmussen and a spectator who was injured when she fell. The details are rather gory. William H. Wheeler, the man who was injured by Clara Rasmussen falling on him, is later referred to as Martin Wheeler. )

“Slide For Life” Artist Falls Sixty Feet to Death.

Clara Rasmussen Meets an Awful Death – Members of Amusement Company Are Held Criminally Negligent by Coroner’s Jury.

In the full sight of the thousands of spectators who had gathered in the expectation of witnessing the thrilling “Slide for Life,” advertised as one of the Fourth of July attractions, Clara Rasmussen, whose stage name was Calra Fox, fell head long to her death on Saturday morning.

William H. Wheeler*, a spectator, who conducts a boarding house at 1308 First avenue south, who stood with his eyes fixed on the end of the wire, stretched from the top of the court house to the the point in the center of Seventh street, north of Central avenue down which the performer was expected to slide, was struck by the girl’s falling body. He was picked up and later removed to the city hospital, where he now lies. With a fractured skull and a broken collar bone. In spite of his terrible injuries, it is states by physicians, that Wheeler has a chance for recovery. He passed a comfortable night and rests easily today. When examined it was found that a piece of bone, half an inch by three quarters, had been crushed to powder, slivers of the bone being washed down with the blood which trickled down the face of the injured man. The inner plate was splintered and crushed in, and brain matter protruded from the wound. A crack extended up the skull for some little distance. An operation was at once made to raise this depression, to put the protruding brain tissue back in place and to remove all splinters of bone. This was successfully done, and as a result, the patient has recovered consciousness and is perfectly rational. His chances for recovery cannot be determined fully until several days have gone by, as time is required in case of injuries to the brain. Wheeler’s collar bone was broken on the left side. It is the supposition that the girl’s falling body struck him on the left shoulder breaking the collar bone, and that in falling, the right side of his head struck either the curbing or a hydrant which was standing near.

No one imagined the dreadful tragedy which was impending when the girl, clad in her flimsy costume appeared on the court house roof, altho many shuddered as they looked along the pathway down which she was supposed to travel. As soon as the industrial parade had passed, preparations for the slide were made. The girl was seen to take the leather billet in her mouth. Then she was swung off the edge of the roof, but was pulled back again for a moment, apparently while something was repaired, then again she was swung off on her perilous slide. She had scarcely gone six feet, when suddenly her body shot downward. She struck the cornice of the building, rebounded, and then shot straight down toward the paving, while a groan of horror went up from thousands of spectators.

It was over in an instant. Two bodies lay helpless on the pavement. A general rush was made to help the injured ones. Wheeler’s body was picked up and as soon as he was found to be alive, he was removed to the hospital, where the operation necessary if his life was to be saved was performed by Dr. R. Evans and Dr.  H.G. Ristine.

The girl’s heart action had not entirely stopped. She was taken inside the court house and Dr. J.W. Kime and Dr. W.W. Bowen endeavored to inspire artificial respiration. Her injuries were mortal, however, and she died in about twenty-five minutes, without having regained consciousness. She had sustained three fractures of the skull, her collar bone was broken on the right side, and her left thigh was fractured in several places. The injures to the head alone were sufficient to cause death.

Corner (sic) McCreight at once impannelled (sic) a jury, consisting of M.J. Rodney, C.H. Smith, and E.J. Johnson, which has ever since that time been endeavoring to fix the responsibility for death. The jury is making an exhaustive examination, and up to the time of going to press has returned no verdict. The task of finding out just how the accident has been one of great difficulty. On the girl’s body, when picked up, was a harness, consisting of two belts around the waist, another under the arms. These were of blue belt material, and were connected by two bands of red, running up the sides. What is known as the safety wire, used by all performers in making these slides, remained attached to the wire, having evidently become detached from the harness worn by the girl, to which it was supposed to have been fastened. The question presented to the coroner’s jury was to decide who was negligent in fastening the safety wire.

Mr. and Mrs. Leon DeEtta, at the head of the Shelby Amusement company, which included all the special amusements brought to the city for the Fourth, stated before the jury that the wire had been brought under the belt which passed under the girls armpits, and that if it had been suffered to remain where they had placed it, the accident could not have happened.

They hinted that the girl must have changed the position of the wire herself, either planning suicide or from a desire to make the trip hanging by her teeth, out of pure bravado.

The discovery of a third red band Sunday evening, by C.H. Smith, a member of the jury, may change the aspect of the whole case. It is now argued that the belts were buckled behind, that this third band was run down the front, and the safety wire slipped under it. The supposition is that when the girl’s full weight was committed to the wire, this flimsy contrivance was torn off, letting the girl fall to an awful death.

The use of any such band was strenuously denied by Mrs. De Etta, when the extra strip was brought out this morning. She insisted that the belts were buckled in front, and that the third band, which she had not mentioned at all in her examination on Sunday afternoon, was sewed on behind.

The testimony of J.F. Mangels, the high diver with the company, taken on Sunday afternoon, was corroborative of that given by the De Ettas. Mr. De Etta, when later brought in and questioned, made known the fact that he is practically the whole Shelby amusement company himself. It had been given out when he first came here that Mr. Shelby was in New York and that the man who calls himself De Etta was the manager of this branch of the company. De Etta stated  under pressure that the entire company were the people in Fort Dodge, including himself and wife, the girl Clara Rasmussen who was killed, the high diver J.F. Mangels, Mr. and Mrs. Hart, and a man named Wilson, who was to have done the slide for life, but was prevented by a burned hand.

De Etta said that his real name was McLane, but that he had used the names Von Lear and Hi Wallace. He said that he had taken the name Shelby for his amusement company because he had at one time been partnership (sic) with a man named Shelby, who had died leaving him with a lot of stationery on his hands.

The witnesses to appear before the jury on Sunday were J.M. Preston, janitor of the court house, who was on the roof when the girl made her fatal slide, Dr. J.W. Kime, who was the first physician to reach her, L.DeEtta, the head of hte amusement company, Mrs. Millie DeEtta, his wife, who was also on the roof with the dead girl, Dr. W.W. Bowen, J.F. Mangels, the high diver, Mrs. M.E. Hart, property woman, Dr. T.E. Devereaux who was present when the harness was cut from the woman’s body and R.P. Rasmussen, the girl’s brother. this morning Mr. and Mrs. DeEtta and Mrs. Hart were recalled and Mr. Hart’s testimony was also taken.

Little could be learned about the girl’s history or home life. The DeEttas stated that she had joined them with the intention of coming here to put on a vaudeville show in connection with the celebration, and that her sister and several other girls were also coming, but had later disappointed them, but that Clara came anyway. The only name she had ever given to the DeEttas was Clara Fox, Coroner McCreight learning that the girl’s sister, named Louise, was supposed to be workign at the Prague hotel, corner Thirteenth and Williams street, Omaha, telegraphed to that point. The girl showed the telegram to her brother who at once wired Dr. McCreight and appeared himself in person on Sunday afternoon.

He stated before the jury that the girl’s right name was Clara Rasmussen, and that she was sixteen years of age. He said that she and her sister had made their home with their father until three months ago, and that after that the girls had gone to work at the Prague hotel, where Clara held a position as dishwasher. He himself is married and in the grocery business. He did not know that the girl had left home until he received word of her tragic fate.

The brother took the body back to Omaha on the Sunday night train.

On account of the morning tragedy, City Marshal Ed Welch stopped the high dive which was to have been given in the afternoon.

The girl appeared for her fatal slide in a hastily manufactured homemade costume, improved out of cheap materials, hastily purchased at Fort Dodge stores. A portion of the harness which she wore was also purchased in this city.

This was the first time she had ever made the slide, but the preponderance of evidence went to show that she was very courageous about it, and was determined upon taking the risk. It was stated that she herself urged the De Ettas to let her do it.

(Editor’s note: The story of the Slide for Life, the death of Clara Rasmussen and what happened to the people involved in this tragedy will continue here.)

This is an interesting contrast in articles. I’m positive that both articles are about the same child, but they give different names. I will have to do more research in order to determine what the correct name is. Also, the Chronicle says that the boy is 11 months old, but would have turned two in another month – that is clearly wrong. The Messenger says that he is 4 years old – again, more research is needed to find the truth.

This does bring up the fact that although newspapers are a great source of information, they aren’t always accurate. Speaking as a current newspaper employee, I know that the reporters try hard to get the facts straight, but in some cases it boils down to what people tell us – or don’t tell us.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 5, 1904

Little Boy Badly Burned on Fourth

Clothing Caught on Fire From Matches in Pocket Lights Fire Crackers

Prompt Action Taken to Save

Prompt Action by Two Brothers Alone Saved The Little Chap From Losing His Life – Rolled Him on The Ground and Put Out the Fire.

Little Herman Duerner, aged nine years, while on his way from his home on Prospect Hill to attend the German Evangelical picnic north of the city. was badly burned yesterday and but for the prompt action of his two brothers would undoubtedly been fatally injured.

The three brothers were making their way along to the picnic grounds with a good supply of firecrackers and matches. They had reached a point at Fifth avenue north and Twelfth street when the matches in the hip pocket of the boy, Herman, were in some manner  ignited, setting off a bunch of firecrackers at the same time. The little fellow’s trousers caught the flame at once and from there the blaze spread to his waist. The brothers of the terrified lad threw him promptly on the ground and by rolling him over and over on the grass and slapping at the blaze with their hands, soon had put the fire out.

Before this could be done, however, the boy had been very seriously burned on the hip and when the clothes were removed from the injury it was found a place several inches across, had been literally cooked. The boy was taken to his  home where he later received medical attendance. The injury is a very serious one, but it is thought beyond a large scar which must of necessity result, there will be no permanent bad effects.

The brothers of the injured boy, to whom without doubt, the saving of his life is due, are aged about six and twelve, respectively. In their prompt action in effecting his rescue, they showed coolness and judgment that would have done credit to far older heads.They are William and Karl Duerner.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 29, 1903

Serious Runaway Near Duncombe

Ole Hanson, Wife and Baby Thrown Out of Buggy By a Frightened Horse.

The Baby Will Probably Die.

Mrs. Hanson Was Unconscious for Several Hours From the Shock, But is Recovering Slowly At The Present Time.

Last Saturday morning about nine o’clock while on their way to Fort Dodge, Ole Hanson, wife and five months old baby of Duncombe met with a very serious accident. When about two and a half miles from home and close to the John Mallinger farm their horse became frightened at a hay loader and rake standing inside the fence. The horse which was traveling at a good rate stopped suddenly, shied to one side, throwing the occupants of the buggy violently to the ground. Mrs. Hanson was knocked senseless by the fall and did not recover consciousness for almost half an hour. When she became aware of what had happened she found herself surrounded by friends in the John Mallinger home. Her first thought was for her baby, and she found that its injuries were very dangerous, perhaps fatal as the blood was gushing from its mouth and ears.

Dr. Thompson of Duncombe was immediately summoned and did what he could for both the woman and baby. They were taken to the home of Thomas Ness, Mrs. Hanson’s father, where they are now resting. Mrs. Hanson has recovered from the shock to a considerable extent, being bouyed (sic) up by her anxiety for her baby. The baby is lying in a semi-unconscious state with few chances for life. Mr. Hanson escaped almost without an injury and the horse which is an ordinary looking, sedate plug, ran but a short distance with no injury to itself or to the buggy. Mr. Hanson is a farmer and lives a quarter of a mile east of Duncombe on his mother’s farm. His mother, Mrs. Anna Hanson lives in East Fort Dodge.

The Fort Dodge  Messenger: June 15, 1903

Sunday’s Chapter of Accidents

Heroism of Sister Saves Two Year Old Daughter of Mrs. Anna Svaleson from Death.

Child’s Clothing Was on Fire.

Katie Hanson Falls Eight Inches and Breaks Her Collar Bone – Sylvester Worley Has Hand Pierced by Blow From Pick.

A painful accident which came very near resulting in the death of a child, occurred on Sunday morning. The little two-year old daughter of Mrs. Anna Svaleson while playing alone in an upstairs room of her home on Eleventh avenue south, in some way lit some matches which set the child’s dress on fire. In a moment the little girl’s garments were ablaze and her pitiful screams could be heard for blocks away. The little one’s sister, who was down stairs came to the rescue and smothered the flames which would soon have caused the child’s death and probably set the house on fire.

The little girl was badly burned about the abdomen and thighs but will recover within two weeks.

■ ■ ■

Katie Hanson, the thirteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Hanson, living at 1026 Eleventh avenue south, fell a distance of not over eight inches from a hammock on Sunday, and broke her collar bone. The child was lying in the hammock which was almost touching the ground when the rope broke, letting her fall. She struck on her shoulder, in such a manner as to break the bone.

The injury was given prompt medical attention, and is not regarded as serious.

■ ■ ■

While attempting to move a dummy coal car in the Illinois Central coal shed, Sylvester D. Worley had his hand pierced thru by a pickax which was being wielded on some coal by Isaac Hedgecock at four o’clock Sunday afternoon. The pick went clear thru Mr. Worley’s hand, causing the wound to bleed copiously and giving Mr. Worley intense pain. Medical attendance was immediately summoned but the wound was not dressed without considerable loss of blood. The injury was purely accidental.  Mr. Worley will recover without permanent inconvenience.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 14, 1904

Pin Lodges in Her Throat

X-Ray Examination Reveals Pin in the Throat of Six Year Old Girl.

The six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Behrens, living on Eleventh avenue south, swallowed a pin Monday afternoon, the pointed instrument lodging in her throat. Physicians were called and the child was given an X-ray examination at the office of Dr. Saunders. The ray revealed the pin, but it was decided by the doctors to await further developments. It is thought no serious results will follow.