Joseph Harrison Casady (~1928-1946)

CASADY

Posted By: Alan Nicholson - volunteer
Date: 6/30/2014 at 21:04:00

O'Brien County Bell, 14 Aug 1946, p 7

Joseph Casady, 18, Dies In Fall From Coaster

The third youth was killed on the Thriller roller coaster in three years, Monday night, July 29. He was Joseph Harrison Casady, 18, only child of Dr. and Mrs. C. F. Casady of Sibley. His father is a dentist.

A year ago, later in the season, an Estherville youth was killed in a mishap on the same coaster. Two years ago a Clay county youth died as a result of an accident on the same coaster.

Young Casady had been employed this summer at the Okoboji Club and with a number of other young persons from the club had caught a ride to the amusement park when their work was done. They arrived at the park at about 11 o'clock.

According to persons who were at the scene of the accident shortly after it was reported, the youth had said he wanted to ride on the roller coaster before doing anything else. Those in his crowd refused to ride with him and he got onto a train in which three young women were waiting to ride. The young people from the club waited for his return.

The accident happened as the car was going up the second incline after it had reached the bottom from the highest dip. Those who have aided with operation of the coaster Tuesday said it seemed most logical that he was hurled from his car before it hit the bottom of the dip and was catapulted with such force that he struck ahead of the car. He hit with such force that two of the timbers were broken as he fell. He was not badly mangled, however, but died of a broken neck.

The general understanding of officials and others at the scene Monday night is that the youth was not acquainted with the young women who were riding the train with him. They were Helen Ann Krage, Donna Cook, and Shirley Anderson, all of Sioux City, and have a cottage at Fillenwarth's. Two of them were riding in one seat together, the third was alone in a seat. Casady took still another seat.

Nothing of the accident was known for the few minutes it took the train to continue around the track to the loading platform. The youth was dead when help reached him as soon as the young women reported the accident. Operation of the coaster was stopped at once, for the night.

Dr. C. E. Rector of Spirit Lake, acting coroner, said Tuesday he could not explain the cause of the accident and there appeared to be no defect of equipment. He stated that in previous accidents, companions of the victim had testified that he stood up. Since the Casady youth had no companions and the girls on the train were more or less hysterical when they reached the end of the trip, it is believed no cause can be fixed.

Those who are familiar with the coaster say that undoubtedly the girls were frightened by the big dip and had automatically closed their eyes, so they did not actually see the youth thrown from the car even through they were riding behind him.

Casady was graduated from Shattuck Military school at Faribault, Minn., last month. He was very popular there with the students and was well liked at the Okoboji club. - Milford Mail