Garthus, Harry Jacobson – Died 1914

GARTHUS, JACOBSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/24/2024 at 13:08:54

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 17, 1914 P2 C2

DEATH FROM GUN WOUND.
Harry Jacobson Shoots Himself on Milwaukee Train at Calmar with Fatal Results.
Last week Wednesday night as L & D train No. 8 on the Milwaukee road was pulling out of Calmar, the passengers were started by the report of a shot gun and a man about forty-five years old was seen to fall over. An investigation showed that his name was Harry Jacobson Garthus, and he had a ticket from Emmetsburg to Winona, Minn. The train was backed up to the station, the wounded man was taken to the Pierce hotel and Dr. Ellingson called in to attend him. He was given all the care possible and the next morning was brought to the Desorah{sic} hospital and Dr. Jewell called to attend him. When Dr. Jewell arrived at the hospital he found the man too far gone for recovery so nothing could be done except to ease his pain. He died about noon.
Letters found on his person indicated that Garthus came from Callendar or near there. Besides the shot gun he had a violin which he had played at intervals while coming to Calmar. He had attempted to sell the gun on the train and at that time it was empty. He had about $26 in money with him. The conductor of the trains said that all down the line he acted rather queerly, as though he was under apprehension and was afraid of something, and would leave his seat at intervals and go out into the vestibule and stand in the dark. He had been sent back to his seat several times. It was learned that his immediate relatives were living in Canada and an uncle at Independence, Wis. These were communicated with and the uncle arrived on Saturday and took charge of the body. Brief service was held Sunday by Rev. Mason and the remains were placed in the vault at the Norwegian cemetery. Whether it was an accident or intentional will never be definitely known, but Dr. Jewell is strongly of the opinion that it was an accident, for if he had intended suicide he would have chosen a different part of the body for shooting. The charge from the gun tore a hole through the left side of the neck, severing a number of the veins but not the jugular vein.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows a Harry Jacobson buried in the Lutheran Decorah Cemetery and shows the date of death the same as stated above. It shows he was born in 1867. I am not sure this is the same person but several statistics indicate it probably is.

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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