Josef Erben, Jr. 1851-1872

ERBEN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/19/2011 at 01:10:26

A Fatal Accident!
A Young Man Shoots Himself While Hunting
Last night, Cheever Lake, three miles southwest of this village, was the scene of a sudden and cruel death and a place of mourning and bitter grief to a stricken family. A son of Mr. Josef Erben, who lives on Cheever Lake, had recently come to his father’s from Cincinnati, and was expecting to make his home among his large circle of relatives and friends in the pleasant neighborhood which they had chosen. The young man was a fine specimen of a nature’s nobleman, just budding into manhood in his twenty-first year, and was beloved by everyone. He was fond, in leisure hours, of sporting, and as the lake afforded excellent opportunities, he often frequented it with boat and gun. He was on the lake last evening, among the rushes, watching with loaded gun, for ducks and other game, when, in order to paddle the boat, he laid his gun across the sides, the rushes caught it as the boat moved, turning the muzzle toward him and at the same time hitting the trigger in such a manner as to discharge the gun, sending its contents of death into his body just above his heart and into the left lung. Dr. Ballard was summoned, but his skill could only prolong life a few hours, when young Erben died surrounded by his weeping relatives and sorrowing friends. May the Great Father comfort them in their sudden calamity and grief.

Since writing the above, we learn that the gun was discharged while Erben was taking it out of the boat, instead of while he was in the boat, and that he was intending to return to Cincinnati next week, instead of remaining here at present. These particulars have been hastily gathered, as we are about to go to press. (Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, September 7, 1872)

The Funeral of the young man, Josef Erben, Jr., will take place tomorrow, Sunday, at one o’clock, P.M., in Estherville. (Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, September 7, 1872)