Vaughan, Harry 1883-1901

VAUGHAN

Posted By: Janice Young (email)
Date: 12/2/2003 at 04:36:34

Harry Vaughan

Iowa State Democrat, Thursday, February 28, 1901
Page 1, Column 6

In the midst of life we are in death. Surely this saying has been illustrated and proven true in this city during the past few days. There have been other deaths but the saddest and most untimely, seemingly, is that of Harry Vaughan.

Young and full of vigor, his life filled with rosy promise, his death, so cruel and so sudden, has fallen upon the hearts of many heavily and with almost crushing force upon his father and mother and other near relatives. Harry would have been 19 years old had he lived until the 12th day of next June. He was large and strong and had a manly look that made him seem much older than he really was. In athletic sports he was a leader and was well known as one of the best in all the games usually played by schoolboys and young men.

He was very bright minded and quick to learn. He had been educated in our city schools and at a military school in Michigan. He possessed great musical ability and was a member of the Knights Templar Band. But his most marked attainment in music was his skill as a violin cellist. He seemed to lavish his attention and heart upon this instrument and had become so proficient that a personal ingeniousness was distinguishable in his playing. It had been planned that next autumn he should go to Chicago and there become a pupil of Sommers, that his talent might be more perfectly developed.

But last Sunday evening, in company with other young men of this city, he went out for a lark and while jumping from Number 6, the Denver Flyer on the C. R. I. & P., as it was entering Grinnell, was terribly injured. It seemed that he struck a switch. Both legs were broken, his left arm was crushed between the elbow and shoulder so that amputation would have doubtless been necessary, his right hand was so mangled that only half of the two middle fingers were saved, and his forehead was crushed in, so that quite a section had to be drawn forward to relieve brain pressure. He was brought home on the first train and everything possible done for him but it was impossible to keep the blood from penetrating to the brain.

He was conscious during the day Sunday and conversed with his family. He was so nervy that he was sure he could get well, and if anyone could have lived through such an experience, Harry could have. During the latter part of the night he became unconscious and at 10:45 Monday morning passed away. The sad event has thrown a gloom over the community that seems to envelope all. It is on every tongue and everywhere is heard the same expressions of sorrow and sympathy. The anguish of the parents and near relatives has become the burden of many hearts.

The funeral occurred Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock at the home, Rev. J. C. Willits, between whom and Harry there had been a warm friendship, having charge, assisted by Rev. Cowan. The home was filled with friends and the floral tributes were very rich and profuse. A Quartette composed of F. C. Meredith, R. C. Daly, Rilla Morton and J. W. Loyer sang very sweetly, while Mr. Spencer Robinson and Miss Bertha Sonntag of Chicago rendered “Nearer My God To Thee in a manner that simply melted the hearts of all. Mr. Robinson and Miss Sonntag are the singers who assisted in the band recital Tuesday evening and they were so impressed with the sadness of the occasion that they kindly remained to sing at the funeral, even though it made them late in reaching their next evening’s engagement.

Following the services at the home the line of march was formed leading to the cemetery. The Knights Templar Band followed by Company L, both of which deceased had been a member, led the way. The street was filled with those who had not been able to gain entrance to the home and at every corner along the line of march there were groups of sympathizing friends. The grave had been beautifully covered with decorations and it was filled in the presence of the family and they left it, a place of sadness and sorrow, but covered with the most beautiful flowers.
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A Sad Death

A Young Life Sacrificed..Parent’s Hearts Broken..Friends Deeply Shocked..A Sad warning to Others.

Young, full of life and vitality, the only child of fond parents, the favorite of his companions, and the pride of many fond ones, the news of the accident which befell Harry Vaughan caused a feeling of depression to fall on many of our citizens, last Sunday morning, when they learned that he had been horribly mangled and that his death was but a matter of a few hours.

Saturday evening, he went to Colfax, accompanied by twelve other young men. They wert on No 1, which goes west about nine o’clock and came back on No.6. When they reached Newton, all of the boys, excepting Blaine Woodrow, Vern Robison, Burt Kennedy and Harry Vaughan left the train, these four young men going on to Grinnell. Woodrow and Robison were in the cars, Kennedy and Vaughan rode on the blind end of the baggage car. When the train was nearing the depot in Grinnell, Harry got off, Kennedy remaining on the front end.

When the train stopped, Kennedy went to the other boys and told them that Harry had left the train and he was afraid that he had been injured. The three went back and picked Harry up and carried him to the firehouse. Medical assistance was sent for and his father, Mr. H. M. Vaughan was notified of the accident.

How Harry received his numerous wounds will never be known. The supposition is that he hit his head on a low switch board and then got tangled up in the rods under the car.

His injuries consisted of a large wound two and half or three inches long on the fore-head, just a little below where the eyebrows meet, with bone depressed beneath making it necessary to remove a portion of it; a multiple fracture of the left arm occupying nearly all the space between the elbow and shoulder joint; a fracture of the left ankle and severe injury to the right ankle; amputation was necessary of all the fingers of the right hand; a cut was found about three inches long just above the knee cap of the right leg, besides sundry bruises and scratches.

Harry was put on a stretcher and brought back to Newton on No. 25, and all that could be was done, but the shock was too much and he could not rally from it. He died at 10:45, Monday morning.

Harry was born in Newton, June 20, 1882, was a bright boy, full of life and was a fine musician. He has been a good assistant to his father, had charge of the bottling works where “Navon” is made, and assisted in the hardware business of Wm. Vaughan & Son. He was a member of the Knights Templar band, and also of Co L, I. N. G. He was a constant companion of his mother and they spent many hours together, Harry playing on the violin-cello and his mother accompanying him on the piano.
Words fail when we try to express the sympathy that is felt for the bereaved parents by their many friends; and we cannot do more than refer them to Him, who rules the destiny of man and who gives and takes away the loved ones.

The floral offerings of the Knights Templar band, the Newton Business Men’s Association and of friends were magnificent. The funeral services will be held this morning at nine o’clock at the home on West Main Street. ~ The Newton Journal, Wed 27 Feb 1901.