Fountain, Nellie 1864 - 1904

FOUNTAIN, HOCH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/19/2019 at 12:12:16

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 3, 1904 Page 4

Two Ladies who were Visiting it are Killed in the Elevator.
Des Moines, Feb. 26.—A terribly fatal accident, which resulted in the instant death of Mrs. Dr. C. B. Fountain and her mother, Mrs. A Hoch, occurred at the capital about 11 o’clock Friday morning. The two ladies were members of a party who were being escorted through the capital building by Hon, A. B. Funk of Spirit Lake, at which place they formerly resided. Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Johnson of Spirit Lake were visiting at Dr. Fountain’s and came to the capital this morning on a sight seeing tour. They entered the south elevator on the senate side of the building to go to the second floor. Mr. Funk, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Fountain had stepped into the elevator and Mrs. Hock and Mr. Johnson were on the outside. Just as Mrs. Hoch was about to enter the car it suddenly started and she was caught by the beams at the top of the car and crushed to death. The elevator tender reversed the car and shot downwards and Mrs. Fountain in striving to assist her mother got her head outside the door and it was crushed by the upper part coming in contact with the floor. Both ladies were instantly killed. The screams of the people in the elevator at the time were heard all over the building and in an instant crowds of people gathered around on both floors. Mrs. Hoch’s body which had been caught in the transom on the first floor was removed to a settee and Mrs. Fountain’s body lay on the elevator floor in the basement. Physicians were hurriedly sent for but nothing could be done. Dr. Fountain was summoned and soon arrived and his grief was terrible to contemplate. Several of the other ladies in the car were overcome and one man fainted away at the spectacle.
Mrs. Hoch was an aged lady nearly 70 years old. Her daughter was about 35. They formerly lived in Spirit Lake but moved to Valley Junction about four years ago where Dr. Fountain has become a well-known practitioner.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows they are both buried in Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines. Cinderilla Hoch was born January 19, 1835 and died February 26, 1904. Her daughter was Nellie Fountain who was born in 1864 and also died February 26, 1904.