Alvis F. Lough 1857-1904

LOUGH, ANDERSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/29/2010 at 20:51:23

Death Was Swift
Life of A. F. Lough is Snuffed Out Without a Moment’s Warning
Struck by a Street Car in St. Louis last Friday [July 1, 1904] Night at 10:30 and his Skull Fractured
Funeral Being Held Today
Death came suddenly and unexpectedly to A. F. Lough last Friday evening, just at the close of a day of great enjoyment to himself and wife. It came at a time when the least expected and in a manner that has thrown a gloom over the entire city.

Mr. and Mrs. Lough, two of Mrs. Lough’s sisters and others had been in St. Louis attending the big exposition. They had been having a most enjoyable time and were planning to start home on the following day, as Mr. Lough desired to get back to attend to some business matters.
They had returned to their rooms and Mr. Lough had gone down on a little errand, walking across the street diagonally. The street corner he was attempting to cross was the intersection with a street running east and west and one coming in from the south. A car was passing, going east on the street running east and west, and his attention was evidently attracted toward that car, for just as it passed he started to cross the street car tracks. As he did so a car coming from the south and turning to the west, came whirling around the curve, striking Mr. Lough and throwing him some twenty or thirty feet. He struck the curb stone with great force, the skull being fractured and one side being badly bruised.

Assistance was soon at his side and he was hurried to the hospital, where he was given every attention. But he never regained consciousness, passing away at 2 o’clock Saturday morning. Once or twice he spoke a few words, but it is believed that he was never conscious from the time he struck the curbing.

The remains were brought to Estherville Tuesday morning on the Rock Island train from the south, where they were taken In charge by members of secret societies of which he was an honored member. The funeral services are being held this afternoon from the Presbyterian church and are in charge of the Masons, although the other secret societies are represented. The interment will be in Oak Hill cemetery.

The deceased has long been a prominent factor In the business, political and social life of the city, few men being more closely identified with the history of the city during the past few years than he. His sad and sudden death has been a great blow to his host of friends, while to his wife and other sorrowing relatives the blow has been an unusually hard one and their grief has known no bounds. To them, in their great sorrow, will be extended the sincerest sympathy of the entire community.

The most peculiar and sad thing about his death was the fact that he evidently seemed to know that he was going to his death when he left here. At any rate he did not want to go and it was his expectation when he left Estherville to go only as far as Cedar Rapids, returning to Estherville the next day. But when he got to Cedar Rapids he decided to go on to St. Louis, and while there enjoyed himself to the utmost, his last day being an especially enjoyable one. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, July 6, 1904)

A.F. Lough Killed
Struck by a Street Car and Skull Fractured
Was Visiting Worlds Fair
At St. Louis Where Accident Occurred – A Sad and Untimely Death

This community was shocked Saturday morning by the receipt of a telegram conveying the sad news of the accidental death of A. F. Lough, editor and manager of the Enterprise of this city, who was at St. Louis with his wife and other relatives attending the exposition. The accident occurred at 10:30 Friday evening and he was taken to the hospital where he died four hours later.

As near as we have been able to learn the facts concerning his death are as follows: In company with his wife and Miss Anderson he had just returned from the World’s Fair grounds and when they reached the place where they were rooming he remarked that he would step across the street and get a lemonade, which he did and the ladies went to their rooms. About ten minutes later he was carried into the house in an unconscious condition, having been struck by a street car, his skull fractured and several ribs broken. Those who saw the accident say that in crossing the street he waited for one car to pass and as he stepped across onto another track a car coming from the opposite direction struck him. He was thrown nearly forty feet and struck on the hard pavement. An ambulance was called and he was taken to St. John’s Hospital, two doctors worked over him from that time until he died, but he never regained consciousness. This is certainly a sad death and one that has cast a gloom all over the city.

Mr. Lough was one of the most prominent men of this town and county and his sudden taking away is grieved by all. He was a man of ability, education and enterprise and although apparently not strong physically was always up and doing and was successful in every undertaking. Failure was a strange word in his vocabulary. Starting in life almost without a cent he had, at the time of his death, accumulated a snug fortune. He is estimated to have been worth nearly $75,000 and besides carried a $20,000 life insurance.

A loving wife, father and mother, three sisters and three brothers are left to mourn his untimely death. He was forty-five years of age.

The remains arrived from St. Louis yesterday morning and funeral services will be held in the Presbyterian church at 2:30 this afternoon. Rev. McLeod will preach the sermon and the Masonic fraternity will have charge of the burial. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, July 6, 1904)

A.T. Lough of Estherville, a brother-in-law of W. A. Kennedy of this city, was killed in St. Louis Friday while on a visit to the exposition. Mr. Lough had visited Rock Rapids at different times and had a number of acquaintances here who will hear with regret of the fatal accident, which occurred while the gentleman was attempting to cross a street in front of an approaching street car. Mr. Lough was a cripple and an extension which he had added to one of his shoes caught in the track and could not be disengaged before he was struck by the car. Mr. Lough was accompanied by his wife and the latter attempted to drag him from the track, but without avail. (Rock Rapids Reporter, Rock Rapids, IA, July 7, 1904)

Card of Thanks
We wish to express our thanks to the many kind friends who tendered their sympathy and aid to us in the time of our sad bereavement, the death and burial of A. F. Lough.
Mrs. A. F. Lough, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lough and family, Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Anderson and family. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, July 13, 1904)