Close, Fred B. (died 1890)

CLOSE

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/17/2011 at 18:28:58

From: Le Mars Sentinel, June 17, 1890
A Fatal Polo Game.

Sioux City Journal:—The Polo game between LeMars and Sioux City came to a disastrous end yesterday in an accident that resulted in the death of Fred B. Close. Fred entered the game with his left arm in a sling, not having recovered fully from the effects of a fall while fox hunting in England last fall, and to that was probably due the fatal result of yesterday's game. Notwithstanding his reckless daring, Fred was a splendid horseman, and had he had full use of his arm he might have avoided the collision that caused him to be thrown and crushed beneath the two falling horses.

The Sioux City team had scored three goals and Fred was congratulating his boys on their excellent playing. Jack Watson, of the LeMars team, was making a splendid run down the field when, for some unaccountable reason, Fred attempted to cross in front of him, and to the spectators it was evident that the two would cannon. An instant before, the horses collided Fred was seen to sway in his saddle, and when the crash came he was already unseated. Watson's horse struck Fred's and the latter was thrown, and falling upon its rider, rolled clear over him. Then, as the horse struggled to regain his feet, Watson's horse fell over him und he also rolled across the body of poor Close. Watson was thrown over his horse's head and escaped injury.

Fred never moved a muscle, but lay as one dead. A number of his friends rushed to his assistance, but he manifested no sign of life. A young Norwegian physician who happened to be on the ground came to their assistance, and succeeded finally in restoring circulation, but was unable to bring the unfortunate man back to conciousness. News of the accident was telephoned to the city and Drs. Bergen and Savage hastened to the grounds, but their efforts were unavailing. Upon examination they found that Close's right clavicle had been fractured in three places and the upper part of the chest completely crushed in. Besides these injuries, and more serious than all, it was evident that the brain had been terribly injured, and there were unmistakable indications of cerebral hemorrhage.

All possible care was bestowed upon the injured man. The patrol wagon was dispatched in hot haste t o bring mattresses, bed clothes and a tent. At 8 o'clock in the evening it was decided by the attending physicians that the sufferer could not be moved, and the tent was pitched above him. With a finger on either pulse they awaited the end; but Close exhibited a vitality that was simply phenomenal and for three hours his condition was not materially altered. The breathing was labored, and impeded as it was by the injuries to the chest and hemorrhage of the lungs, together with an accumulation of mucus about the bronchial tubes, causing a rattling in the throat that was horrible to hear.

About 11 o'clock a decided change for the worse in the injured man's condition was evident. The pulse grew weaker and fluttering, and respiration became more and more difficult until 12:45 it ceased altogether and the physicians pronounced him dead. The immediate cause of death was internal hemorrhage caused by the injuries to the chest. From the time of the accident till the end he was never conscious, and it is a reflection fraught with comfort that his death, untimely as it was, was still free from pain. Indeed, those who knew him best are ready to affirm that had Fred been able to choose the manner of his death he would have asked no other than fell to his lot. They cannot, however, but question the providence that cut off poor Fred's career just as he was entering upon the larger usefulness and responsibilities of life. Among many projects he had formed was the organization of the Freeland Mortgage company, representing above $3,000,000 of English capital, which would have been incorporated under the laws of Iowa within a few days. But it is not the man of business that his friends will mourn, but rather the whole-souled, enthusiastic and sympathetic man.

The dead man was well known all over northwestern Iowa. The Close brothers, Fred B. and James, came from England to Correctionville, where they operated a large ranch in the 70s. Later they went to LeMars and did a banking business for the Englishmen there when the town and the colony of Englishmen who made it were at their best. They acquired a large amount of real estate, mostly farming land, while in LeMars, and when it began to get quiet there they removed to Pipestone, Minn., for a time to look after their large landed interests there.

After a two year's residence in Pipestone they removed to Sibley, where F.B. Close & Co. owned a bank. A year ago last January Fred B. Close removed to Sioux City, where he has since been engaged in the real estate and loan business. He was about 35 years old and was married six years ago. They have no children. His brother James is now in England.

The funeral services were held at St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal church Sunday afternoon and the body was interred in the Floyd Cemetery.

The beautiful floral offerings that filled the church with their perfume during the services there were taken out to the cemetery and placed upon the grave, where they literally hid with their many colored blossoms the heaped up mold. Of these offerings one had been contributed by the LeMars Polo club, another by the Prairie club of the same place, and a third by the polo club from Sibley.

The pall-bearers were R. T. Patrick, J. Watson, G . Stoner, P. Statter, G. C. Maclagan and Ed Kirk. W. I. Buchanan had arranged all the details.

A great many strangers were in attendance, many having come from St. Paul, LeMars, Sibley, Larchwood, Kingsley and Pipestone to pay their last tribute of respect to their departed friend.