John McDavitt

MCDAVITT, WARREN

Posted By: Jim McDavitt (email)
Date: 4/19/2007 at 16:43:46

Newspaper article from the Saturday 3 July 1909 Ottumwa Courier

TRAGIC DEATH FROM RUNAWAY
MAD FLIGHT OF DELIVERY TEAM SNUFFS OUT LIFE OF YOUNG DRIVER
PITCHED TO GROUND
Wheels Pass Over Johnnie McDavitt's Body After Falling - Survives Until His Mother Arrives

Crushed beneath the wheels of a heavy delivery wagon, the bruised form of little Johnnie McDavitt, the 12 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward McDavitt, 923 Hayne street, gave up the struggle for life in the presence of his heartbroken mother shortly after 8 o'clock this morning, within half an hour of the sad occurence of the accideent that cost the child his young life.

The lad had been employed for some time as an extra delivery boy by the Selstrand grocery firm on Hayne street, and was about to begin his work for the day, when he was doomed to the tragic fate he met. The youth had, with his companion driver, Ed Lager, just finished harnessing the horses. Lager had charge of the larger wagon, while young McDavitt used a light single wagon. While the Lager youth was closing the stable, the McDavitt boy threw the seat cushion into the larger wagon and was about to arrange the seat for Lager, when the horses began running away, pitching the lad from the wagon and causing the injuries that resuted in almost instant death. A number of persons witnessed the accident and one of them, Mrs. John Stiles, who resides a short distance from the Selstrand barn, endeavored to stop the team.

Mrs. Stiles' Story
When seen shortly after the accident, Mrs. Stiles gave the following version: "I was standing at the gate on the west side of my home when the boys were hitching the team, and my attentionwas attracted to the scene by the voice of Johnnie McDavitt calling to the horses to stop. I do not know anything about his pitching the seat cushion into the wagon, as when I first saw him hw was in the act of climbing into the vehicle. His left foot was on the step at the front of the wagon which was facing the east at the time. The horses began to move no so fast at the time, butgradually going faster. The boy called to them to stop, but they continued. He had hold of the wagonbrake handle with one hand and was about to throw his right leg over the wheel when the horses having paid no attentions to his commands to stop, begain to run and as they continued down the alley, they broke into a fast plunging and ran wildly toward my home. I saw a child in the street near my house and in the path of the running team, and called to him to get out of the way. I then ran around the house to the alley side and tried to open the gate and stop the horses, for I feared for the safety of the McDavittboy."

Lad Was Caught
"I was unable, however, to open the gate, and when the team passed they were running very rapidly and wildly. The lad was at this time still holding to the brake, but had fallen between the wheel and the wagon bed and was straddle of the axle at the front of the wagon. His head was thrown back and his hair was streaming in the wind, his hat having fallen in the street near my home. Dashing by the gate, the team ran madly down the alley to the next corner, with the lad unable to extricate himself from his precarious position, and with the swerrving of the wagon, he was pinned between the wheel and the wagon bed. When the corner was reached, the team swerved about and turned north and the lad either fell or was pitched to the ground and both wheels of that side of the wagon passed roughly over his little breast."

The team continued their mad race until they came to the Selstrand store, having turned the corner again after running down the lad. They were caught on Hayne street, close to the store where they belong.

Many willing hands lent aid to the injured lad and medical attention was soon summoned, but too late to be of any asistance to the lad. Word was dispatched to his family, who reside some two blocks from the sceneof the accident, and his disconsolate mother arrived in time to hear his last word "mother" and he passed away in her presence.

Companion Resigned
Internal injuries sustained when the wheels of the heavy wagon passed over him together with the fall from the wagon, caused his death. No bones showed signs of fracture and but few bruises were noticeable.

The boy was 12 years old and the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward McDavitt, both of whom survive him, as does also three brothers, Charles E. of East St. Louis; Hugh P., 1404 East Second street, and Joseph, at home; two sisters, Bessie and Isabelle, also of Ottumwa, survive.

As a result of the runaway, Ed Lager, who has driven the team for some time past, resigned at the solicitation of his mother, who feared a similar fate for her child if he continued about the team. A week ago, this team took a wild streak and demolished a delivery wagon. The horses have been the source of much alarm to drivers.