Eddie C. Rose 1881-1901

ROSE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/9/2010 at 21:51:51

A Horrible Accident
Little Freddie Benson and Eddie Rose Killed Yesterday by the Explosion of a Soda Fount

Yesterday afternoon, a little after four o’clock, while several customers were gathered in the Dean Drug Company’s store trading an awful accident occurred. Barron Dean, brother of the proprietor of the store, had gone with Eddie Rose, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Rose, and who works there nights and mornings, into the basement to charge a soda water fount. Two other lads, Georgie Rose, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nate Rose and Freddie Benson, ten year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Benson, all residing in this city, accompanied them. They were playmates of Eddie Rose and accompanied him to the basement to see how the work was done. In charging the fount it seems a part of the apparatus used is a long steel cylinder which contains gas charged to several pounds pressure to the square inch. This is connected to the fount by means of a small tube and a valve or thumbscrew is at the top and must be opened to let the gas through the tube while at the same time the fount must be rocked to thoroughly mix the gas with the water. The Benson and Rose boys were rocking the fount and Mr. Dean was turning the thumbscrew and watching the gage that the pressure would not get too high. They usually charge it to two hundred pounds but the indicator had only shown eighty, when without warning the fount exploded. It was a large report which fairly shook the building and those in the store hastened to the base, only to find a horrible sight. The little Benson boy lay face downward with his clothes torn from the body, his left arm broken in several places, the flesh torn from the arm and his whole left side mashed. He was picked up and carried upstairs when it was seen at once that he was dead, been killed outright. A piece of the broken fount had struck him in the forehead which caused instant death. The Rose boy was being looked after at the same time and it was found by medical aid, which had already been summoned, that he was hurt internally, besides his left arm being dislocated. It is feared that he cannot life. Georgie Rose escaped with only a slight bruise on the hand and Mr. Dean was only stunned and soon regained consciousness.

It is not known what was the exact cause of the accident and no one can be blamed for it. It was probably a spontaneous explosion and entirely without warning. A great wave of sorrow has come over the city as the awful death of this young lad has become known and the greatest of heartfelt sympathy is everywhere expressed by sorrowing friends.

Eddie Rose Dies
Later: Eddie Rose died at 7:30 this morning. Four doctors worked over him all night but to no avail. Words cannot express the profound sympathy that is felt for the sorrowing families by the citizens of Estherville. It is the saddest accident that has every occurred here. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, September 25, 1901)

The Emmet County Republican adds: Eddie Rose who died Wednesday morning from his injuries was twelve years old and was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Rose; the other Rose boy was the son of Nate Rose who is a brother of the one who died. (September 26, 1901)