The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 10, 1905

Bones Broken in Game

Ball Player Breaks Collar Bone in Webster City

Webster City, June 10 – Third Baseman Dow of the Williams’ base ball team, which played in this city, had the misfortune to break his collar bone during the game. He was taken to the office of Dr. Rummel where the fracture was dressed. The injury will not prove serious and the young man returned home on the afternoon train.

The accident happened in the last half o the sixth inning. The Williams team was at bat and Dow was on first base. He attempted to make second and a long low ball was thrown (to) Arthur Martin, who was  holding this base for the Baraca team. Martin stooped to get it and tag the runner and Dow attempted a slide. He collided with Martin’s knee with such force as to break the collar bone.

The young man was taken from the ball diamond and assisted to the office of Dr. Rummel. The doctor states tat the injury is by no means serious. It will lay the young man up for two or three weeks, however. Of course beside the breaking of the collar bone, Mr. Dow was considerably bruised about the shoulder.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 1, 1904

Fireman Lou Pray Injured

His Foot Crushed in an Accident at Tara Monday – Caught Between Car and Water Tank

Louis Pray is confined to his home suffering from a crushed foot as a result of an accident of which he was the victim Monday night. Pray is a fireman employed by the Illinois Central and was on his engine bound west at the time of the accident. From what can be learned the mishap was due to a string of cars not being “clear” on a sidetrack at Tara. As the engine was passing the cars Pray’s foot was caught between them and the tank in the tender and painfully hurt.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 31, 1904

His Case is a Peculiar One

A Man With a Broken Back Lives Nearly Two Years – Case of Joel Johnson

The case of Joel Johnson of Coalville, whose death occurred Friday, is one of the most peculiar and sad ever occurring in Webster county.

It will be remembered the unfortunate man was hurt while working in a coal mine in Coalville nearly a year and a half ago. He was buried under a fall of coal and his back was broken just below the points of the shoulder blades. He was brought to the hospital in this city and in the hope of relieving the pressure on the spinal cord, an operation was performed. It was discovered, however, when the incision was made, that the spinal cord had been almost entirely severed. It was thought that man would live but a short time, but a part of the injured vertebra was removed and the patient recovered apparently his health, but of course, not retaining any action or feeling in any of the organs below the region of the injury. Having no relatives he was removed to Coalville, where he was cared for at the expense of the county. He gradually began to grow worse again after his return to Coalville and about six weeks ago became so bad he was brought back t o the hospital in this city, where he remained under the care of the county physician until death.

Previous articles:

Is Paralyzed From Waist Down

Juel Johnson in Sad Plight

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 20, 1903

Long Chapter of Accidents

Several Fort Dodge People Meet Mishaps Which Place Them Under Doctor’s Care

None Are Seriously Hurt

A Broken Arm and Various Cuts and Bruises Fill Out the List

The little six year old son of Clark Andrews residing at 549 Third avenue north while playing with several young companions received injuries that will keep him in the house for several weeks. He and a number of other boys wre playing together in a barn on the back of his father’s premises when Clark started down stairs. When about half-way down his foot slipped and he fell to the ground. Instinctively he put out his hand to catch himself and falling upon his arm broke it. A physician was called and the arm was set. At present he is resting easily and is very thankful his fall did not result more seriously.

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Adelbert Butler a lamplighter in the employ of the Chicago Great Western sustained a rather painful accident Tuesday night while in the performance of his duty. It is his duty to see that the different switch lights and the other lights in the Great Western years are trimmed and properly lighted and for this purpose he carries a small ladder with him on his rounds. He had climbed up on the ladder to relight a lamp when the ladder upon which he stood slipped from under him and he fell to the ground. In some way he struck his head, cutting the scalp and inflicting a wound about an inch and a half in length. He managed to come to town and have a physician dress his wound which had to have several stitches taken in it but was very weak from loss of blood. He is back at work today as well as ever.

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C.B. Kibby while showing a prospective customer the stock he was handling had the misfortune of having one of the heavy wagon tongues fall upon his head. He was stunned by the blow and it was several minutes before the doctor, who was hurriedly summoned by his customer, could bring him back to consciousness. He was not very badly hurt and execept (sic) a severe bruise ont he top of his head is now feeling all right.

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While Harry Carter was lifting up a cake of ice into an ice box it suddenly slipped from his grasp and fell heavily upon his foot. The ice weighed about forty pounds and falling with such force badly crused (sic) his foot. A physician who examined the injured member said there were luckily no bones broken but that the foot was rather badly bruised and would pain him for some time.

(Editor’s note: graphic content)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 18, 1903

Mangled By Stallion’s Bite

Hnnry (sic) Vauble, a Webster City Farmer, Terribly Injured

Entire Cheek is Bitten Out

Entered Barn to Look After Sick Horse and Got Into Stallion’s Stall by Mistake

Webster City, May 19 – Henry Vauble, aell to do farmer living seven miles north of this city, had his whole cheek bitten out by a vicious stallion here this morning. He is now at Mercy hospital, suffering great pain from his injury.

Mr. Vauble has had a horse undergoing treatment at one of the Webster City livery barns for some days past, and this morning came in to see how the animal was getting along. By a mistake he got into the stallion’s stall which was next to that of his horse. The animal turned and with one vicious snap tore away the man’s whole left cheek.

Vauble staggered back, the blood flowing from the wound in streams. The employes (sic) of the barn promptly came to his aid and he is being given every attention.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 9, 1905

Roy Parker Bitten by Hunting Dog

Was Cared For by Physician and No Bad Results are Feared

Roy Parker was severely bitten by a dog belonging to George Kehm (on) Eighth Avenue north and Eighth street last evening as he was walking past the Kehm residence. The wound inflicted by the animal’s teeth was so severe that it required the attention of a physician. It is thought, however that there will be no serious results from the bit, as the dog is known to be in a healthy condition.

The police were notified of the affair and the animal was to have been killed, but on the promise of the owners to keep him muzzled, they allowed it to live. The dog is a valuable one, being a thoroughbred hunter, and Mr. Kehm did not wish to lose him.

At the time he was bitten Parker was walking in the north end of the city and was approached by the animal from behind almost without warning the dog snapping him in the fleshy part of the calf. He will be lame for some time to come from the effect of the attack.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 5, 1903

Fred Clausen, of Ogden, Narrowly Escapes With Life

Almost Ground Under Wheels of Minneapolis Train Bound for Fort Dodge

One of the narrowest escapes form death that did not result in anything more serious than a bruised arm, happened to thirteen-year-old Fred Clausen Saturday night at Ogden. The Minneapolis & St. Louis passenger train had just begun to get up speed after leaving the station and came around a curve directly upon the boy. He saw it coming in time and jumped, but just a little too slow. The fact of his being in the air with his feet off the ground, is probably the only reason he was not thrown beneath the wheels.

As it was, he was struck on the shoulder and thrown several feet down the embankment. The train was stopped immediately, and the crew went back to pick him up. Instead of finding him dead, as they expected, the found him sitting up nursing his shoulder, which had been struck pretty hard. The boy says, however, that the train did not strike him, but that he stumbled and rolled down the embankment, hurting himself that way. However that may be, he is extremely thankful for his exceedingly narrow escape.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 4, 1904

Teamster Has an Experience

Elmer White and Wagon Go Over an Embankment

Wagon Turns Over Completely Burying the Driver Beneath a Load of Rubbish

The next time Elmer White attempts to dump a wagon load of rubbish into the “clear” depths of the Des Moines river he will endeavor to dump only the contents of the wagon and not the wagon, team and himself as he did Tuesday. White, who is a teamster and makes his living by hauling rubbish and generally assisting the board of public improvements, while in the act of backing his wagon to the bank of the rive Tuesday miscalculated the distance between the rear wheels and the edge of the embankment and as a result the wagon performed the difficult feat of turning a back somersault, burying the driver beneath its contents, while the horses, freed from the vehicle by the breaking of the tongue and reach, waltzed down the embankment at a somewhat slower pace to join the driver and wagon forty feet below.

Fortunately for White his plight was witnessed by several men working nearby, who volunteered their services to dig him out. An unusual feature of the accident was that the driver escaped without the slightest injury and the same good fortune attended the horses.

The mishap was the result of the rear wheels going over the edge of the embankment, allowing the full weight of the load to slide to the rear of the wagon. The vehicle started down the embankment and turned completely over, carrying its occupant with it.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 1, 1905

Gowrie

John Swanson, one of the hands who are employed on the bridge gang, was quite badly hurt by a falling plank one day last week. The plank struck him in the face and resulted in breaking his nose and bruising his face in general.

Little Pearl Chase, of Trenton, North Dakota, arrived in Gowrie Monday  morning. Pearl is going to make her home with her aunt, Mrs. F.N. Brunson and attend school here as there is no school convenient where  her parents live.

Miss Ruby Osborn is sick at present with tonsilitis.

Mrs. Clark left here for Minneapolis Monday evening where she expects to visit with friends for a few days.

Little Gladys and Helen Spangler have been on the sick list lately.

Mr. and Mrs. Chase of Fort Dodge visited with their daughter, Mrs. T.N. Brunson, the fore part of the week.

Wedding bells are ringing. Have you heard their chimes?

Miss Lucy Chock who has been attending school in Clare, is visiting with her parents at present.

Walter Evans of Worthington, Minn. who has been visiting for a few days with his mother, Mrs. O.E. Evans, returned home Monday, accompanied by his two children who have been visiting with their grandmother for sometime.

Mr. and Mrs. Guy Johnson of Callender were visiting friends in Gowrie Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Burgoon of Paton were transacting business in Gowrie last Saturday.

The E.L. social held at the home of Mrs. and Mrs. Wertz was quite well attended in spite of the inclemency of the weather and about $9 was raised (about $216 today).

Mrs. Hibbard of Lorhville is visiting friends and relatives in town this week.

Oscar Lungren who is attending the Ames Agricultural college is home for the Easter vacation.