HARRIS, Kathrine 1883 - 1910
HARRIS, BROWN, HEFLIN, MATHEWS, HANSEN
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 6/10/2006 at 11:36:47
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Friday, June 24, 1910
Page 2, Columns 2 and 3KATHERINE HARRIS KILLED BY "Q" PASSENGER TRAIN
FREIGHT HIDES ENGINE.
Popular Young Woman's Tragic Death Comes as Shock to City.
One of the most terrible accidents which has occured in this city for some time was the death of Miss Kathrine HARRIS whose life was snuffed out by Burlington passenger No. 10 this morning at eight o'clock. The accident happened on the North B street crossing.
Miss HARRIS had started to her work and had to wait a few mimutes on the crossing for a freight train which was standing on the north track. She finally concluded to go around the caboose which was a short distance east of the crossing and hurried around it stepping in front of the last Chicago passenger which had just left the depot a minute before.
The train was going at a fair rate of speed and as Miss HARRIS stepped in its path she was instantly struck. The body was hurled 51 feet and thrown down at the south switch. The crew of the freight train and that of the passenger rushed to the girl and picked her up ascertaining that she still lived. Dr. Bannister of Ottumwa who was on the passenger was the first physician to reach her while Drs. Groves, Gaumer and Fordyce of this city were very soon on the spot.
She was carried to her home about three blocks away on a stretcher but died about nine o'clock without regaining consciousness. An examination showed that a number of injuries had been sustained. There was a compound fracture of the left leg just below the knee, the right arm was broken at the wrist and there was a scalp wound about three inches long on the right side of her head and her body was badly bruised. Her death was probably due to the shock and concussion of the brain, the physicians state.
A gold bracelet and her beautiful back combs together with some small change which she probably had in her hand were found on the tracks by workmen soon after the accident. The girl's hat was picked up near her body having been knocked from her head.
Miss Margaret HARRIS, a sister, who is employed in the J. C. Thorne & Son's dry goods store, was not quite ready to start to work when Miss Kathrine left home and was about a block away from the track when the accident occured. She did not see owing to the fact that the freight train standing on the north track hid the terrible tragedy from her view. Some of those gathered on the spot hurried to meet her and acquaint her of the accident and went home with her to break the news to the widowed mother.
Miss HARRIS was about 27 years of age and was born and reared in this city. She is the youngest of a large family of children and because of that fact has been loved with an intensity seldom seen in large families. She was a member of the graduating class of the Fairfield High school with the class of 1900 and later took a course at the State Normal School in Cedar Falls.
She learned the millinery trade with Miss Nellie Israel and later was employed at The Fair store and the Branson millinery store. She spent last winter in Kankakee, Ill., with a sister and returned in the spring to assume charge of the suit and cloak department of the McElhany Department store, and it was to her work there that she was hurrying this morning when she met her death.
Miss HARRIS was one of the most beautiful and charming young women of Fairfield and one of the most popular. There is perhaps not a young lady in the city with a larger circle of friends. Her tragic death was one of the greatest shocks which Fairfield people have experienced for some time.
Miss HARRIS is survived by her widowed mother Mrs. Elizabeth HARRIS who resides on North C street, five sisters, Miss Margaret who is at home, and Mrs. William BROWN who resides on West Kirkwood street in this city; Mrs. Harry HEFLIN of Kansas city, and Mrs. Guy MATHEWS, Cheynne, Wyo, Mrs. Henry HANSEN of Burlington, and one brother Tom who resides in California. There will be no arrangements for the funeral until word has been received from the brother and sisters.
Owing to the fact that Miss HARRIS' death was so clearly accidental there will probably be no inquest held although that point has not yet been decided definitely.
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Saturday, June 25, 1910
Page 2, Column 1--Mr. and Mrs. Henry HEFLIN and son Jack of Kansas City arrived last night called here by the death of Miss Kathrine HARRIS.
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Saturday, June 25, 1910
Page 3, Columns 1 and 2LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
... --Miss Ardie Welton of Wapello arrived last night called here by the death of her friend Miss Kathrine HARRIS.
--Mrs. Henry HANSEN of Burlington arrived yesterday afternoon, called here by the sad death of her sister Miss Kathrine HARRIS. ...
... --Mrs. Guy MATHEWS ofCheyenne (sic), Wyo., is expected this evening, being called here by the death of her sister Miss Kathrine HARRIS. ...
(Column 3)
: : PERSONALS : :--The funeral of Kathrine HARRIS will be held Monday evening at 6:30 o'clock, the hour being taken in compliance with an expressed wish of Miss HARRIS which she had often mentioned to her friends. ...
~~~~
"The Fairfield Journal"
Monday, June 27, 1910
Page 2, Columns 2 and 3RAILROAD IS CENSURED,
Coroner's Jury in HARRIS Inquest Severely Criticises Burlington Road.
At the request of the family an inquest was held this morning over the remains of Miss Kathrine HARRIS who was fatally injured Friday morning by a Burlington passenger while going to her work. Coroner Gaumer empaneled jury which viewed the remains and hear the evidence of a number of witnesses all of whom, with the exception of the train employes, reside near the crossing on which the accident occured. Frank Light, John C. Thorne and S. J. Chester composed the jury.
The jury's verdict was as follows: "We find that the deceased came to her death by being struck by the engine drawing Burlington passenber train No. 10 in Friday, June 24th, about eight o'clock a.m., on the east side of the crossing on North B street.
"We further find by the evidence given in our hearing that said train was far exceeding the speed limit provided for in the city ordinance and we most severely censure the management of the Burlington road for not instructing its employes as to the requirements of this ordinance."
The inquest was held in the Supervisors room in the court house and consumed most of the forenoon. Nine witnesses were examined and they were as follows: Mrs. Bessie Nichols, who resides in the first house north of the track on the west side of B street; Henry Riebe, aged 11, who was the only eye witness to the tragedy aside from the fireman of the passenger; William Henry who resides the second house north of the track on the west side of the street and who was standing in his yard talking to several workmen who were digging a ditch for gas pipes in front of his residence; William Tressell, conductor fo the freight train; Bert Beaber, brakeman of the freight train; O. E. Irwin, engineer of the passenger and C. S. Awl, fireman on the passenger; George Colston, a colored street laborer who was working north of the track, and Dr. E. G. Grove who resides the first house south of the B street crossing on the east side of the street.
It was a most singular coincidence that each witness except the trainmen testified that the signal bells at that crossing did not ring that morning and that they did not hear the passenger whistle for that crossing.
"I did not hear the passenger whistle," said Mrs. Bessie Nichols.
"The crossing bells did not ring and I did not hear the passenger whistle," said Henry Riebe.
The substance of the testimony of the other witnesses was--
Dr. E. G. Grove: "I did not hear the passenger whistle and they were running about 15 or 20 miles an hour."
George Colston: "The crossing bells did not ring that day and I noticed that they did not ring the afternoon before."
Conductor William Tressell: "The passenger did not whistle but were ringing their bell."
Engineer Irwin: "We were running about twenty miles an hour. Whistled two or three times after we left the depot."
Fireman Awl: "We were running about twenty-five miles an hour."
It was brought out in the testimony at the inquest that so far as the employes of the Burlington knew there had never been any speed limit given for Fairfield. Ottumwa, Burlington and other cities have a specified speed limit which is six to eight miles through the city. The need of enforcing the speed ordinance in this city is now clearly evident.
----
--Mr. and Mrs. Guy MATHEWS of Cheyenne, Wyoming, arrived Saturday called here by the death of the latters sister Miss Kathrine HARRIS. ...
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Monday, June 27, 1910
Page 3, Columns 1 and 3LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
... --Rev. Robert D. Jones D. D., rector of the Episcopal church in Burlington, arrived this noon to conduct the funeral services of Miss Kathrine HARRIS. ...
(Column 3)
: : PERSONALS : :
... --Rev. Richard Hughes of Washington arrived this morning to attend the funeral of Miss Kathrine HARRIS. ...~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Tuesday, June 28, 1910
Page 2, Column 1HARD SCRABBLE.
... Mr. and Mrs. T. P. DuBois attended the funeral of Miss Kathrine HARRIS which was was held at Fairfield at 6:30 Monday evening. ...
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Tuesday, June 28, 1910
Page 3, Columns 1, 2, and 3LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
... --Mrs. Fred Nelson of Ottumwa was in the city yesterday to attend the funeral of Miss Kathrine HARRIS. ...
(Columns 2 and 3)
HARRIS FUNERAL HELD AT SUNDOWN.Monday evening just as the golden sun was sinking in the west the mortal remains of Miss Kathrine B. HARRIS was placed in the ground of the family lot in Evergreen cemetery there to rest until the judgment day. The hour for the funeral services was 6:30 o'clock and the Rev. Robert Jones D. D., rector of the Episcopal church in Burlington, had charge.
The minister stood on the porch of the house and conducted the solemn services so that all of the friends might hear him. He began the service with the scriptural passage "I Am the Resurrection and the Light; He that believeth in Me Though He be Dead Yet Shall He Live." Then followed the sermon topic which was "In the Midst of Life We Are in Death " Rev. Jones spoke feelingly of the dead girl, whose pastor he had been; he spoke words of comfort to the broken hearted mother and sisters and he addressed himself for several minutes to the large circle of friends who had gathered to pay the last tribute to the memory of their dead friend.
Percy Easton sang "Lead Kindly Light" and "Sometime We'll Understand," two hymns which were favorites of Miss HARRIS. The remains were carried to their last resting place by six young men, all intimate friends of the young girl. They were: Harry Thorne, Percy Baston, Dr. Chester Fordyce, Wilson Turner, Glen Fairall and Harvey Erickson.
The funeral was one of the very largest ever held in Fairfield, the house and the yards of that and the surrounding properties being crowded. It is estimated nearly one thousand persons were present. The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful, the casket being literally covered with the beautiful blossoms while a multitude of flowers were carried to the cemetery.
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Wednesday, June 29, 1910
Front Page, Columns 1, 2, and 3KATHERINE HARRIS KILLED BY "Q" PASSENGER TRAIN
FREIGHT HIDES ENGINE.
Popular Young Woman's Tragic Death Comes as Shock to City.
One of the most terrible accidents which has occured in this city for some time was the death of Miss Kathrine HARRIS whose life was snuffed out by Burlington passenger No. 10 Thursday morning at eight o'clock. The accident happened on the North B street crossing.
Miss HARRIS had started to her work and had to wait a few mimutes on the crossing for a freight train which was standing on the north track. She finally concluded to go around the caboose which was a short distance east of the crossing and hurried around it stepping in front of the last Chicago passenger which had just left the depot a minute before.
The train was going at a fair rate of speed and as Miss HARRIS stepped in its path she was instantly struck. The body was hurled 51 feet and thrown down at the south switch. The crew of the freight train and that of the passenger rushed to the girl and picked her up ascertaining that she still lived. Dr. Bannister of Ottumwa who was on the passenger was the first physician to reach her while Drs. Groves, Gaumer and Fordyce of this city were very soon on the spot.
She was carried to her home about three blocks away on a stretcher but died about nine o'clock without regaining consciousness. An examination showed that a number of injuries had been sustained. There was a compound fracture of the left leg just below the knee, the right arm was broken at the wrist and there was a scalp wound about three inches long on the right side of her head and her body was badly bruised. Her death was probably due to the shock and concussion of the brain, the physicians state.
A gold bracelet and her beautiful back combs together with some small change which she probably had in her hand were found on the tracks by workmen soon after the accident. The girl's hat was picked up near her body having been knocked from her head.
Miss Margaret HARRIS, a sister, who is employed in the J. C. Thorne & Son's dry goods store, was not quite ready to start to work when Miss Kathrine left home and was about a block away from the track when the accident occured. She did not see owing to the fact that the freight train standing on the north track hid the terrible tragedy from her view. Some of those gathered on the spot hurried to meet her and acquaint her of the accident and went home with her to break the news to the widowed mother.
Miss HARRIS was about 27 years of age and was born and reared in this city. She is the youngest of a large family of children and because of that fact has been loved with an intensity seldom seen in large families. She was a member of the graduating class of the Fairfield High school with the class of 1900 and later took a course at the State Normal School in Cedar Falls.
She learned the millinery trade with Miss Nellie Israel and later was employed at The Fair store and the Branson millinery store. She spent last winter in Kankakee, Ill., with a sister and returned in the spring to assume charge of the suit and cloak department of the McElhany Department store, and it was to her work there that she was hurrying this morning when she met her death.
Miss HARRIS was one of the most beautiful and charming young women of Fairfield and one of the most popular. There is perhaps not a young lady in the city with a larger circle of friends. Her tragic death was one of the greatest shocks which Fairfield people have experienced for some time.
Miss HARRIS is survived by her widowed mother Mrs. Elizabeth HARRIS who resides on North C street, five sisters, Miss Margaret who is at home, and Mrs. William BROWN who resides on West Kirkwood street in this city; Mrs. Harry HEFLIN of Kansas city, and Mrs. Guy MATHEWS, Cheynne, Wyo, Mrs. Henry HANSEN of Burlington, and one brother Tom who resides in California. There will be no arrangements for the funeral until word has been received from the brother and sisters.
Owing to the fact that Miss HARRIS' death was so clearly accidental there will probably be no inquest held although that point has not yet been decided definitely.
(Columns 2 and 3)
Coroner's Jury in HARRIS Inquest Severely Criticises Burlington Road.At the request of the family an inquest was held Monday over the remains of Miss Kathrine HARRIS who was fatally injured Friday morning by a Burlington passenger while going to her work. Coroner Gaumer empaneled jury which viewed the remains and hear the evidence of a number of witnesses all of whom, with the exception of the train employes, reside near the crossing on which the accident occured. Frank Light, John C. Thorne and S. J. Chester composed the jury.
The jury's verdict was as follows: "We find that the deceased came to her death by being struck by the engine drawing Burlington passenber train No. 10 in Friday, June 24th, about eight o'clock a.m., on the east side of the crossing on North B street.
"We further find by the evidence given in our hearing that said train was far exceeding the speed limit provided for in the city ordinance and we most severely censure the management of the Burlington road for not instructing its employes as to the requirements of this ordinance."
The inquest was held in the Supervisors room in the court house and consumed most of the forenoon. Nine witnesses were examined and they were as follows: Mrs. Bessie Nichols, who resides in the first house north of the track on the west side of B street; Henry Riebe, aged 11, who was the only eye witness to the tragedy aside from the fireman of the passenger; William Henry who resides the second house north of the track on the west side of the street and who was standing in his yard talking to several workmen who were digging a ditch for gas pipes in front of his residence; William Tressell, conductor fo the freight train; Bert Beaber, brakeman of the freight train; O. E. Irwin, engineer of the passenger and C. S. Awl, fireman on the passenger; George Colston, a colored street laborer who was working north of the track, and Dr. E. G. Grove who resides the first house south of the B street crossing on the east side of the street.
It was a most singular coincidence that each witness except the trainmen testified that the signal bells at that crossing did not ring that morning and that they did not hear the passenger whistle for that crossing.
"I did not hear the passenger whistle," said Mrs. Bessie Nichols.
"The crossing bells did not ring and I did not hear the passenger whistle," said Henry Riebe.
The substance of the testimony of the other witnesses was--
Dr. E. G. Grove: "I did not hear the passenger whistle and they were running about 15 or 20 miles an hour."
George Colston: "The crossing bells did not ring that day and I noticed that they did not ring the afternoon before."
Conductor William Tressell: "The passenger did not whistle but were ringing their bell."
Engineer Irwin: "We were running about twenty miles an hour. Whistled two or three times after we left the depot."
Fireman Awl: "We were running about twenty-five miles an hour."
It was brought out in the testimony at the inquest that so far as the employes of the Burlington knew there had never been any speed limit given for Fairfield. Ottumwa, Burlington and other cities have a specified speed limit which is six to eight miles through the city. The need of enforcing the speed ordinance in this city is now clearly evident.
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Wednesday, June 29, 1910
Page 3, Columns 1, 2, and 3LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
... --Mrs. Fred Nelson of Ottumwa was in the city yesterday to attend the funeral of Miss Kathrine HARRIS. ...
(Columns 2 and 3)
HARRIS FUNERAL HELD AT SUNDOWN.Monday evening just as the golden sun was sinking in the west the mortal remains of Miss Kathrine B. HARRIS was placed in the ground of the family lot in Evergreen cemetery there to rest until the judgment day. The hour for the funeral services was 6:30 o'clock and the Rev. Robert Jones D. D., rector of the Episcopal church in Burlington, had charge.
The minister stood on the porch of the house and conducted the solemn services so that all of the friends might hear him. He began the service with the scriptural passage "I Am the Resurrection and the Light; He that believeth in Me Though He be Dead Yet Shall He Live." Then followed the sermon topic which was "In the Midst of Life We Are in Death " Rev. Jones spoke feelingly of the dead girl, whose pastor he had been; he spoke words of comfort to the broken hearted mother and sisters and he addressed himself for several minutes to the large circle of friends who had gathered to pay the last tribute to the memory of their dead friend.
Percy Easton sang "Lead Kindly Light" and "Sometime We'll Understand," two hymns which were favorites of Miss HARRIS. The remains were carried to their last resting place by six young men, all intimate friends of the young girl. They were: Harry Thorne, Percy Baston, Dr. Chester Fordyce, Wilson Turner, Glen Fairall and Harvey Erickson.
The funeral was one of the very largest ever held in Fairfield, the house and the yards of that and the surrounding properties being crowded. It is estimated nearly one thousand persons were present. The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful, the casket being literally covered with the beautiful blossoms while a multitude of flowers were carried to the cemetery.
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Wednesday, June 29, 1910
Page 4, Column 1LOCKRIDGE.
... Rose Fagan went to Fairfield on Monday to attend the funeral of Kathrine HARRIS. ...
~~~~
"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Friday, July 5, 1910
Page 2, Column 1JUNE HISTORY.
(BY H. HEATON)
Summary of thie history of Jefferson county for the month of June 1910.... On the twenty-fourth in the city Miss Kathrine HARRIS was struck and killed by a railway train. Miss HARRIS was 27 years of age and lived with her mother and sister. To them the terrible accident was prostrating and the entire city was shocked by the awful event. ...
~~~~
"The Fairfield Journal"
Wednesday, July 13, 1910
Front Page, Column 2JUNE HISTORY.
(BY H. HEATON)
Summary of thie history of Jefferson county for the month of June 1910.... On the twenty-fourth in the city Miss Kathrine HARRIS was struck and killed by a railway train. Miss HARRIS was 27 years of age and lived with her mother and sister. To them the terrible accident was prostrating and the entire city was shocked by the awful event. ...
~~~~
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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.Note: Buried in Lot Old.P.198.
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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