Closz, Cairo Louise (1879-1915) and Vivian David (1894-1915)

CLOSZ, BIERNATZKI, JEFFERS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/25/2016 at 10:12:12

Daily Freeman Tribune, Tuesday, March 9, 1915

TWO MEET TRAGIC DEATH ON EAST WAGON BRIDGE

VICTIMS SON AND DAUGHTER OF MR. and MRS. CHAS. CLOSZ

HORSE RUNS AWAY

NEVER REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER ACCIDENT

LIVED JUST FEW HOURS

UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS WERE BOTH WELL KNOWN YOUNG PEOPLE

For the second time within a very few months the people of Webster City have been horrified by the occurrence of a fearful accident - the last, however, being one in which two young people, children of one of the city's best known and most prominent families, lost their lives.

Miss Cairo Closz and her brother Vivian, daughter and youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. [Ida Charlotte Biernatzki] Closz, are the victims of this accident which occurred on the Bank street bridge last night between 10 and 11 o'clock, when the horse, hitched to a covered single buggy in which they were riding, became frightened and ran down the hill, colliding with the bridge in about the middle of the structure, throwing the occupants against the steel work and fracturing their skulls. They never regained consciousness. Vivian passed away at Mercy hospital about three quarters of an hour after the accident, while Miss Cairo lived perhaps two hours afterward.

How the accident happened no one will ever know, for it was perhaps ten minutes following the shocking affair before they were found by another brother, Irving Closz, who with his sister, Miss Eva, and the hired man, were coming into the city from the Closz farm east of town in a bob sled. They heard nothing of the runaway until they came down the hill and onto the bridge where they found the unconscious victims.

For the past two years, four members of the Closz family, Miss Cairo and brothers, Carl, Irving and Vivian, had been living upon the Closz farm. Yesterday was the wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Closz and in recognition of that fact and also that a married sister, Mrs. Edward M. Jeffers and two children of Ottumwa, were visiting at the family home in this city, Miss Cairo had arranged a fine occasion at the Closz home in this city, with a big family dinner at noon, and had herself bought roses for the occasion which was a happy time for all. About 5 o'clock last night the three brothers and Miss Cairo left the family home in town and returned to the farm which is about five miles southeast of this city.

Later in the evening, Vivian complained of illness and after telephoning a physician in this city, the members of the family on the farm decided to bring him to town. When those who were riding in the bobsled arrived at the scene of the accident, they carried Miss Cairo up the hill to the nearest home east of the river. Others had arrived on the scene by this time and the sled was dispatched for Dr. Richardson. The victims were at once hurried to Mercy hospital where they passed away within two hours of each other.

The horse did not run farther than the scene of the accident, and those who arrived shortly afterward found the animal standing near the west end of the bridge.

Miss Cairo Closz was born November 18, 1879 and was therefore thirty-five years of age. She graduated from the Webster City high school about fifteen years ago, and also attended Central Baptist college in Pella. A year or more of her life was also spent in Stockton, California, where the business interests of her father demanded a branch office. She was a girl of rare qualities, best appreciated by her family and close friends, possessing a deep religious nature which was evinced by her work in the Baptist church in this city, of which she was a conscientious member. For a number of years she conducted a missionary society known as "Farther Lights" for the young people of the church and those who know of her activity in this particular cannot speak too highly of her devoted, consecrated work. She was an active assistant in the Sunday school held in the little country school house near the Closz farm, where she has taught and helped in many ways.

While never possessing a strong physical constitution, Miss Cairo possessed an indomitable spirit and made possible the accomplishment of much which would have been remarkable in one of far stronger constitution.

Vivian Closz was the youngest child of the family and would have reached his twenty-first birthday June 17th. Never having been strong, he was the one on whom they lavished their affection and his loss to the family is irreparable.

This blow of a double bereavement falls with crushing force upon the family and the sympathies of the entire community are aroused by the inexpressibly sad manner of the passing of these young people. With the father and mother, seven brothers and sisters sustain the weight of their grief. They are Mary, who is doing research work in Central College at Pella, Mrs. Edward M. Jeffers of Ottumwa, Harold, who is taking a course in medicine at Ann Arbor, Mich., and Irene, Carl, Irving and Eva, all of this city and vicinity.

The funeral arrangements have not been completed, as other members of the family are expected to arrive tonight. Rev. Edward M. Jeffers, pastor of the First Baptist church in Ottumwa, is also expected to arrive this evening.