HERBERT ALBERT STURDYVIN

STURDYVIN, BENTLEY, NIXON

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 8/12/2002 at 19:05:03

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July l9, l923

H.A. STURDYVIN and RAY CHASEY, Both Died Last Wednesday from Terrible Burns:

Both of the men burned at the Lamoni Steam Laundry on Tuesday afternoon of last week when a mangle exploded, died the following day. The two men, H.A. STURDYVIN and RAY CHASEY were brothers-in-law, MR. CHASEY having been married only a copule of months, and his wife was painfully burned from the knees down. The following particulars of the terrible accident are taken from the Lamoni Chronicle:

An explosion at the Lamoni Steam Laundry which very seriously injured the proprietor, H.A. STURDYVIN, and his assistant, RAY CHASEY, occurred about 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The valve in the index and exhaust pipes leading from the mangle were leaking and MR. STURDYVIN was down on the floor close to the drum where the steam pressure is held endeavoring to tighten a bolt which he thought might remedy the trouble when the mangle exploded throwing boiling water and steam all over him. The force threw him back against a water tank and in order to reach the door he had to pass through the steam and hot water which was splashing and running everywhere. He was badly burned all over, the worse burns being about the face and neck.

RAY CHASEY was standing near the end of the mangle on the opposite side and sustained severe burns on his body. MRS. CHASEY was also near enough to the escaping steam and water to receive burns on the lower limbs.

When the plate on the hand hole blew off, the boiling water in an instant flew everywhere causing the helpers to flee before it. MRS. LILLIE ENNIS and MRS. BLATT were working in the south end of the same room sorting clothes and before they could reach the door they were wading to their ankles. MRS. ETTA MARTIN and other helpers were in the basement and the noise of the explosion was so terrific they lost no time in their fright in an exit through the basement window.

The noise soon brought a crowd. MRS. BLATT rushed to the telephone and summoned surgical aid. The three sufferers were rushed to Dr. Hill's office where he and Dr. King dressed the wounds. They were then removed to the STURDYVIN home on West Tenth Street, where trained nurses, MISS HELENE FLEET and MRS. PAUL TEALE are attending them, and everything possible is being done to alleviate their suffering.

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Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July 26, l923

OBITUARY - HERBERT ALBERT STURDYVIN

HERBERT ALBERT, son of EDWARD and MAIZIE STURDYVIN was born October l6, l885, at Topeka, Kans., died July ll, l923, at Lamoni, Iowa, aged at time of death, 37 years, 8 months and 25 days.

About l8 years of his life were spent at Topeka. From there he moved to St. Joseph, Mo., where he lived for about 9 years. The remainder of his life has been spent in Lamoni.

He became a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Sept. 26, l909.

He was married October l2, l9l4, to MISS HELEN BENTLEY at Des Moines, Iowa. To this union were born two children, FRANCES LOIS and HERBERT MAX. He is survived by his wife, two children, one sister, MRS. JOHN NIXON, and a number of cousins.

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