Bult, Ewaldus 1843-1907

BULT, KROONTJE

Posted By: Bob Arens (email)
Date: 7/29/2005 at 09:15:56

Shocking Death

A shocking death occurred in Alton, Iowa, Tuesday night November 12, 1907, at eleven o’clock the victim being Ewaldus Bult residing in the north part of town. Mr. Bult has a small place in north Alton, where he raises considerable farm produce and livestock. Among his stock he had a four year old bull which he has for several years and which was of a peaceful disposition. Monday evening he went into the animal's stall to clean the manger out. He was leaning over the edge of same, when his feet slipped and he fell down in front of the bull and greatly excited it. Probably in a playful mood rather than in a mood of viciousness the animal butted him with its head and horns, crowding him down against the manger until the left side of his chest was crushed in the ribs being broken and the lungs and internal organs lacerated and bruised. He managed to crawl out of the stall and get to the house where he sat down in a rocking chair, soon swayed from it and fell to the floor. His wife got him into the bed and doctors were called. Dr. Gleysteer of Alton and Dr. DeBey of Orange City and Dr. Cram of Sheldon came as speedily as hey could. After a conference it was thought best to operate upon him to relieve the congestion and pressure etc. It was found however, that he could no t stand the taking of chloroform in the weakened condition and so it was impossible to operate and the physicians reluctantly informed his family that he could not live. He was a man of wonderful vitality and lingered along until Tuesday night when his soul took flight. The deceased was sixty-five years old having been born in Walvega, Friesland on the twenty ninth of September 1842. He came to the United States in 1888 and located at White Lake, South Dakota remaining there for about nine months after which he removed to Sioux City and spent three and a half years as a florist there. In 1893 Mr. Bult came to Alton with his family and ha s since resided where his death occurred. In addition to raising various kinds of produce and livestock the deceased has followed the occupation of woodcarving, which was the trade at which he earned his living in Netherlands. The wooden shoes which he carved out in winter evenings were worn my many Hollanders of the region and were among the best obtainable. At times he carved some beautifully both large and small for exhibition purposes and souvenirs. The deceased though a Hollander by birth, was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton a circumstance somewhat unusual in the vicinity. In 1884 at Monaldum, Friesland, Ewaldus Bult was married to Miss Marie Kroontje and to their union five children were born. Funeral services were held Friday from St. Mary's Church f which deceased was a most faithful member. Very Reverend Brune conducted the impressive ceremonies of the church. Besides the sorrowing wife four children are left to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent father. They ar e Mrs. Henry Slinger and Mrs. Albert Slinger of Granville vicinity and two little girls Mary aged thirteen and Martha aged ten at home two brothers and two sisters residing in Holland will also receive the sad news of their brother's death. Mr. Bult was a strong and well preserved man of good habits and bade fair to live a ripe old age but for this unfortunate accident. He was a man universally respected by Alton citizens and his sudden death was a severe shock not only to his family but to the public generally. The surviving family have the sympathy of Alton generally.

Source: Alton Democrat, November 16, 1907