Arthur Owen (ca. 1881-1893)

OWEN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/17/2011 at 13:41:11

From Story County Watchman December 22, 1893

Slater News: ....On Friday, Dec. 8, our community was startled by the very sudden and accidental death of Arthur Owen, a boy about 14 years of age, in the steam elevator of Oley Nelson at this place. He had been assisting his father about the elevator and some minutes after the men had commenced to load a car of corn from a full bin, the boy was missed and search quickly instituted for him. Just then the spout at the bottom of the bin became clogged and upon investigation of the cause of the clogging the boys foot was found protruding down through the spout. Immediately efforts broke out the bottom of the bin and the corn being let out, the boy was taken out, but all too late and his cold lifeless body was taken to the home of grief stricken parents.

There was no eye witness to the accident, but it is to be supposed, that the boy went to the top of the bin to see the corn running down and not realizing the powerful force of the downward suction playfully jumped into the corn and was drawn down to his death, powerless to resist and before he had time to make an outcry for help.

His funeral was held at the Slater Congregational church on Sunday, Dec. 10th, at 11 o'clock a. m., Rev. Mr. Warner, conducted the services....

SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Arthur Owen is listed in the 1885 Sheldahl, Polk County, Iowa census as the son of Cyrus B. & Carrie A. Owen.