Whitacre, Helen Caro (1906-1915)

WHITACRE, ROBILLIARD

Posted By: C. Tucker (email)
Date: 8/30/2016 at 17:57:07

OBITUARY:

Evening Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Tuesday 7-20-1915] p. 6

LITTLE CARO WHITACRE DEAD

Diphtheria Claims Oldest Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Whitacre

The second death in a little more than twenty-four hours occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Whitacre, 107 1/2 North Second street, when Helen Caro, aged 9, the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Whitacre, succumbed at 9:59 Monday night to diphtheria. Baby Mary Elizabeth, aged 21 months, died Sunday afternoon. The second death in the Whitacre household was almost more than the grief-stricken parents could bear. When it was discovered that the baby was a diphtheria victim, Caro, who was at first ill of what was presumed to be a severe case of tonsilitis, was given 5,000 units of anti-toxin. This same dosage was repeated twice Monday, and for a time, about noon, the child appeared better. She grew steadily worse during the afternoon and evening, however, Dr. W. H. Robilliard, of Faribault, Minn., an uncle of Mr. Whitacre, reached the city at 5:15 Monday evening. He pronounced the case practically hopeless at the time. Little Caro had been stricken with the disease since her baby sister came down a week ago with what was thought was tonsilitis. She was not very sick until Sunday, when it was realized for the first time that diphtheria was the ailment. Helen Caro Whitacre was born in this city June 30, 1906. Last year she was a pupil in the third grade of the Rogers school, and a member of the Congregational Sunday school. Little Caro was a bright and winsome child, a favorite among her playmates, and her death casts a gloom over a wide circle of friends thruout the city who are powerless to lend aid excepting as it may be expressed to the bereaved family by telephone. In the Times-Republican, especially, Mr. Whitacre's associates feel the sad affliction most keenly. Master Edward Whitacre, aged 5, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Whitacre, who was up and about Monday, is today a victim of the disease, altho the immunizing dose given him following the death of his baby sister will probably prevent a serious attack. Three thousand more units of anti-toxin where given in his case today, and it is believed that the poison will be thrown off and the case will prove to be a mild one. Dr. Robilliard says that Caro's case was of the most virulent type known. Immunizing doses of anti-toxin were given today to Mr. and Mrs. Whitacre, both of whom are tired out after their long vigil over the bedsides of their stricken little ones, and in a physical condition that might make them subject to the infection. The burial of Caro took place in Riverside this afternoon, beside the fresh mound of earth made only Monday for Baby Mary Elizabeth.