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MOORE, Harry L. 1895-1905

MOORE, SCHIEL, RICKETTS, GALYEAN

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/9/2013 at 02:06:11

[Waterloo Daily Reporter, Friday, June 9, 1905]

DEAD BOY CAME BACK TO LIFE

HARRY MOORE WAS THOUGHT DEAD, BUT LATER TALKED

LIVED FOR TWELVE HOURS

MOST REMARKABLE CASE ON LOCAL MEDICAL RECORD

Ten Year Old Boy Was Made Ready For Undertaker, But Returned to Consciousness.

After all evidence of life had departed and the body had been laid out by relatives preparatory to summoning an undertaker, Harry L. Moore, aged 10 years, suddenly exhibited signs of life and with the combined efforts of family and physicians was returned to consciousness and conversed with those about him. He remained alive for twelve hours.

The boy is a son of Mr. and Mrs. James Moore, who resides at 159 Cottage Street. Sunday he complained of feeling a pain in his side in the region of the spine, but thought the trouble was induced by over-exertion while at, play. Monday he had apparently recovered and on Tuesday attended school at the Washington building. He was taken sick in the forenoon, and a physician was called. His ailment
was diagnosed as tetanus, or lockjaw. It is a malady usually produced by an injury to the spinal column or through infection. The tetainis germ spreads through the body and affects either the brain or the throat.

The trouble settled in Harry's throat causing the muscles to tighten so much that strangulation nearly resulted. One great difficulty encountered was to force medicine into the system through the throat. The muscles were closed so tightly that even his breath ceased at times, producing inward convulsions. Treatments were given hypodermically and some relief was gained.

-Boy Pronounced Dead-.
Shortly before 4:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Harry had a convulsion more severe than the preceding ones, his breath came in little gasps and then ceased, his eyes turned glassy, and with a shudder the little form straightened out and life was pronounced extinct. A minister was present and assisted in the examination made by the relatives and all said the boy was dead.

The remains were made ready for the undertaker, who was to be summoned as soon as the body was examined by the attending physician, who was called when Harry was taken with the last convulsion. J. L. Galyean, a brother-in-law of the boy was present at the time death was thought to have come, and did what he could to revive the lad. He felt of the heart, but there was no noticeable palpitation. While the relatives were gathered about the form, Mr. Galyean felt of the body again and found it still warm and damp with perspiration. The heart was sought and he thought he felt a faint flutter which ceased almost immediately. He breathed into the boy's moth, bathed the face with cold water, but his efforts appeared futile. The remains were left for a half hour, when a faint twitch of the lower lip was seen and one of the boy's hands moved. The physician arrived at this juncture and he and Mr. Galyean made an effort to revive him.

They worked over the child for several minutes and their efforts were rewarded with signs of returning life. He gained in strength, his pallid countenance regained a lifelike color, and soon he was able to speak. He could tell nothing of his experience during the time he was thought dead, but conversed with the physician and his parents on other matters. He remained rational until 9:00 o'clock when he again became unconscious and at 3:30 o'clock this morning passed away.

J. L. Galyean, who was for many years connected with the train service of the Illinois Central, states that, he never witnessed a more desperate struggle for life than that made by his little brother-in-law. He has witnessed many heartbreaking scenes of men perishing under engines, in wreckage, etc., but he never saw a more manly effort to evade death.

-Sketch of Boy's Life-

Harry L. Moore, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. James Moore, was born in Waterloo, March 1, 1895, and was 10 years 2 months and 8 days old at the time of death. His father is employed as foreman in the carpenter department of the Illinois Central shops.

Harry lived in this city ail! his life and was a regular attendant at the public schools. He had a cheerful disposition and leaves many friends to mourn his untimely demise.

He leaves besides father and mother three sisters and one brother as follows: Mrs. John Schiel, Mrs. Bert Ricketts, Mrs. J. L. Galyean and Frank Moore, all of Waterloo.

Funeral services will be hold at the Walnut Street Baptist Church Sunday morning at 10 o'clock conducted by Rev. H. G. Beeman. Interment will be made in Fairview Cemetery.


 

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