Harriet Genevieve (Davidson) Swearingen (1911-1930)

DAVIDSON, SWEARINGEN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal August 13, 1930 (page 1)

Front page headline:
NEVADA GIRL MET TRAGIC DEATH

LED TO DEATH FROM AUTO WRECK INJURIES

Mrs. Harriet Davidson-Swearingen, 19, of 1613 Fourth street in dead here today, as a result of a motor car accident, on the county road, seven and one-half mile northwest of here, Tuesday evening about 9:00.

The girl bled to death from severed artery in a deep gash across the front of the right leg between the hip and the knee, which she suffered when a Ford coupe that she was driving skidded in the loose gravel and turned over in the ditch.

Morris Johnsen, 18, of 1702 Third street, owner of car, who was with her, managed to drag the girl from beneath the car.

Releasing her from the wreck, Johnsen ran nearly half a mile to the farm home of Mrs. Erikson and there he borrowed an automobile, returned to the scene of the wreck and placing the girl in the car, drove back to town and over to Iowa Sanitarium. The girl was dead when he arrived at the sanitarium.

The femoral artery, which is the chief artery in the thigh, was severed and surgeon state that it would have been a difficult matter, even though a surgeon had been present at the time of the accident, to have stayed the flow of blood and saved the life of the girl.

Johnsen, who had receive gash across one knee in the wreck, collapsed from the shock after it was all over with and was kept at the sanitarium over night.

The ill-fated girl was the older daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Davidson. She had been married and lived in Marshalltown for a short time but had been staying at home for the past several months.

She leaves besides her husband, who is said to be in Montana at this time, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Davidson, 16, and three brothers, Olaf, Carl and Albert Davidson.

After examination at Iowa Sanitarium, the body was removed to the Morfoot Funeral home, where it was prepared for burial.

The funeral services will be held at the Morfoot Funeral home Friday afternoon at 2:30, with Dr. J. O. Simon in charge. Interment will be in the Nevada cemetery.