Leo Struble, 1889 - 1906

STRUBLE

Posted By: Stephen D. Williams (email)
Date: 2/7/2005 at 02:11:37

The Iowa Daily Press
Iowa City, Johnson county, Iowa
Thursday, 5 April 1906, page 5, columns 3-6

SUDDEN DEATH
STUDENT'S FATE
----
RUNS AROUND RACE TRACK BUT
ONCE.
----
Weak Heart Gives Out--An Hour
Later He Breathes His
Last.
----
Leo Struble, a Freshman Engineering student in the university of Iowa, died suddenly yesterday afternoon, as the result of heart failure, following exercise.

No Violence in Work.
He ran but once around the third-of-a-mile track on Iowa field, and his affected heart gave way. He was able to make his way to the Hawkeye gymnasium, but there succumbed entirely, and suffered considerable pain, although retaining consciousness, except possibly in periods of a few seconds each.

Hopelessly Afflicted.
Mrs. Mullin and Littig, university examiners, were summoned, and spent an hour, working over the boy, but their efforts were futile, and at 3:10 he died.
Struble's death was attributed to failure of the right side of the heart.

Inquest Necessary.
An inquest was discussed, but it was entirely unnecessary, it was decided.
The decedent's home is LaPorte, Iowa, where his mother is in a delicate state of health. The news may affect her terribly.
Struble had been in poor condition and he was too ill yesterday to attend classes.

Seemed All Right Again.
He appeared in the gymnasium, as usual, yesterday, however, and seemed ready for the regular exercises. Director E. A. Rule had limited Struble's exercises, however, and had warned the boy not to over-exert himself in any way, and especially to avoid long, hard running.
Struble had merely jogged around the track on this fatal occasion, and he seemed to bear that exertion without any evil results, until after he left the track and the grounds. When he reached the gymnasium, his eyes glazed and his heart action became irregular.

Efforts are Futile.
Director Rule worked with him vainly for some time, but the boy thought he was better and expressed a desire to get up and walk around. This was not permitted, however, and the physicians were summoned as soon as the student's condition began to assume serious phases.

First Time Outdoors.
The exercises on the cinder track were the first through which the students had gone, outdoors, this season. They had taken part in the indoor exercises shortly before they went to the track, and Struble had seemed as well as usual at that time. He was always given less severe tests than any of the other students, as Director Rule was making especial [sic] effort to develop the boy systematically and scientifically, without undue strain. He was never allowed to exercise as violently as any of his fellow-students.

Had Been Warned.
He had been warned, especially about running, and had been told repeatedly never to take part in a race or to make a hard run, under any circumstances, if he were weary or at all dizzy. He was noted for his persistence and his ambitious desire to keep up with the rest of the boys in anything they did athletically.

Watched in Vain.
He was not permitted to contest with them, however, and his terrible fate seems to have been predestined, since every effort and plan to avert even a slight disaster proved futile, and a tragedy ensued instead.

Was a Bright Youth.
The decedent was a bright and capable youth, whose future seemed full of promise. He was not yet 18 (his birthday coming in February) but had been graduated with honors from the Laporte high school, and was a valued member of the Irving society in S. U. I.
He was an accomplished young elocutionist, and won the Northeastern High School Declamatory association contest, during his LaPorte school days.

Father Comes Hither.
The young man's father, Fred Struble, came hither, immediately after the startling message reached him last night. Prof. Minkle, superintendent of schools in LaPorte, and the boy's two uncles, accompanied the grief-stricken father. Mrs. Struble, of course, could not come.

Had Been Afflicted.
Although the young man's kinsfolk had not known heretofore that his heart was affected, the tragedy called to their mind numerous incidents of the past that would have proved the existence of such aliment, had the facts been ascertainable. The boy, at different times in bygone years, showed a tendency towards vertigo, weak spells, etc., and those fleeting attacks undoubtedly forecast the calamity of yesterday, although Providence did not warn the parents then.

Funeral Tomorrow.
The remains of the ill-fated boy will be laid to rest tomorrow in LaPore, whither they were sent this afternoon, via the Interurban and Cedar Rapids, at 1 o'clock. They were escorted to the train by many students. Prior to the departure of the sorrowing funeral party, many friends viewed the remains in Hohenschuh's undertaking rooms, whither the body was taken last evening.