GETTING, Sam 1902-1923

GETTING

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/6/2015 at 14:22:26

Grundy Boy Shot And Killed In South Dakota

Sam Getting, Of Colfax Township, Is Victim Of Accidental Shooting

Shot Strikes Boy in Temple

Remains Brought to His Home; Funeral Held at Drake's Church Friday

Sam Getting, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Getting, of Colfax township, was accidentally shot while visiting near Pierre, South Dakota, and died a few hours later as a result of the wound. The shot struck in the temple and rendered the young man unconscious and he remained in that condition until the end came.

The accident happened Sunday afternoon about three o'clock at the home of a neighbor. The boys had been out hunting and they were visiting in the yard. Sam leaned on his rifle and it was discharged, the bullet entering the temple. He remained conscious for a few minutes after the accident and then passed into a stupor from which he did not recover. He was taken to a hospital at Pierre at once where he died about three hours later.

A telegram was sent to the parents at Grundy county shortly after the accident but this did not reach here until Monday morning. The family were advised Sunday night by telephone of the accident and a short time later they received a second message saying the young man had died.

Will Getting, the young man's father, left for Pierre on the first train.

The remains reached here Wednesday afternoon and they were taken to the home from which funeral services will be held Friday. Later the services will be at the Presbyterian church in Colfax township with Rev. Drake in charge.

Sam Getting was in his 22nd year. He was born and raised in this county. About two months ago he left in his car for Pierre, S.D., with the intention of working there during the fall. He had been making his home with the Fred Schmidt family up there. He is survived by his father and mother, two sisters and one brother, who have the undivided sympathy of everyone in their great bereavement.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 1 November 1923, pg 1

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Thought Gun Wasn't Loaded

More Complete Account of Accidental Shooting of Sam Getting

It was not possible to give an accurate report of the accidental shooting of Sam Getting in the last issue of The Register for the reason that the facts could not be obtained up to the time the paper was printed. We have secured a copy of a paper published at Pierre which gives a complete and accurate report of the unfortunate accident. The article follows.

"A sad accident which cost the life of Sam Getting, a young man from Iowa, occurred at the William Whiteman home near the McClure ranch Sunday afternoon. Getting, in company with Babe Whiteman and Miss Mabel Matson, the school teacher at the McClure schoolhouse, had gone to Pierre to take Miss Doris Whiteman to the train, and returned to the Whiteman farm. They made some coffee and were sitting in the kitchen when young Getting went to the sideboard and picked up a .22 calibre revolver which was lying there. In the morning Albert Whiteman had fired this pistol at a stray dog to scare him away, and supposed that the pistol was empty. In firing, one cartridge had failed to explode, and young Whiteman thought it defective and neglected to remove it from the cylinder. When Getting picked it up he snapped it several times on the empty chambers and then took his seat beside the table. He snapped the pistol some more, and while it was pointing at his temple he snapped it upon the supposedly defective cartridge. The cartridge exploded and shot Getting through the right temple.

"Dr. Trent Stout was summoned by telephone from Pierre and he rushed to the Whiteman place, and finding Getting still alive, ordered him taken to St. Mary's hospital in Pierre. Here every effort was made to save his life, but he succumbed to the shock last evening at about 10 o'clock.

"A coroner's inquest was held today before County Coroner I. M. Dotson, and a verdict of death through accidental discharge of a pistol was returned."

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 November 1923, pg 1

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Sam Getting was born Sept. 22, 1902, at Toronto, So. Dak. At the age of four years he moved to this county with his parents. He passed away at St. Mary's Hospital at Pierre, So. Dak., Oct. 28, aged 21 years, 1 month and 6 days. He left from here for Pierre August 28th. Fred C. Schmidt accompanied the body, arriving at Wellsburg Wednesday afternoon.

Funeral services were held at the home and at Drake's church Friday afternoon, Rev. Drake officiating. Funeral was largest held in this community for some time. The floral offerings were beautiful. the pallbearers were Alfred and Leroy Lutterman, Fred and Harm Hook, Fred H. Getting and Albert Siefken, all cousins of the deceased.

He leaves to mourn his death his grief-stricken parents, one brother, two sisters, an aged grandfather and other relatives and friends.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 November 1923, pg 5