Wilder, Sidney, d. 1893

WILDER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/20/2006 at 10:16:20

FATAL ACCIDENT - Yesterday afternoon Sidney Wilder and Roy O’Brien, boys of eight to ten years, went to the sandhill at the south end of Locust street in Colfax, to play at cave-digging. The rain in the earlier part of the afternoon had softened the ground so the boys soon had quite an excavation made, and when another shower came on they were under cover working industriously, Little “Sid” was inside digging and Roy was pulling the dirt back and throwing it out, when suddenly, without warning, a great mass of earth caved in upon and buried both children. Young O’Brien was bending over and the earth pressed him down with his head between his legs, but he managed to squirm around and get air enough in his lungs to scream. His companion answered him, begging for assistance, but gradually the cries of each grew feebler. Meantime Mr. John Wilder, father of Sidney, upon going home to supper and learning where his boy was, went with an umbrella to bring him home.

When he arrived upon the scene the boys were not in sight nor was there any indication visible that they has been there. While Mr. W. was passing a certain spot, however, he thought he heard smothered voices; his heart was filled with sudden fear of what might have happened, he glanced up at the sand wall and saw that there had been a cave-in. Then he worked with frenzied haste to tear away the sand. His cries for help were at once responded to and in a few moments Roy O’Brien – half-suffocated and filled with terror – was exhumed. He told of his little companion’s frightful situation and the digging was resumed but a few moments being necessary to bring out the child’s body. As he was raised from the sand he sank back with a gasp, his pulse fluttered once or twice and then was stilled forever. Drs. Gearhart and Turned were already on the scene and used every known means at hand to resuscitate the body; but it was too late. The scene when Mrs. Wilder, her little daughter and Mr. Wilder gathered beside the dead boy was heart-rending. Little “Sid” was a good boy – their heart’s idol – loved and loving them all. He had left them but a few hours before with loving words and happy heart and to come and find him cold in death was too terrible. ~ The Newton Journal, Wednesday, August 16, 1893.