Iowa
Old Press
Chief Reporter
Perry, Dallas co. Iowa
August 4, 1898
The Hawkeye State - Happenings of the Week in Condensed
Form.
Asa Boyden Underwood, private of Grimes' battery, Battery A.,
First Artillery, from Fort Sheriday, was from Eldora and was the
first Iowa soldier to give up his life for his country in the
Spanish war. Young Underwood, who was about 23 years of age, was
born and raised at Eldora. He was well educated, had read law and
been admitted to the bar. He joined the regular army at Fort
Sheridan a year ago and died like an American. John Conger, Jr.,
another Eldora boy, who is on the staff of Gen. Joe Wheeler, saw
Underwood fall and describes the engagement at El Caney as
follows: "Our battery of light artillery A., on ly 2, fired
the first shot, which met with immediate response. The third shot
from the Spanish guns exploded over our battery killing one man,
Boyden Underwood, the first man killed in the fight. I was behind
the gun when the shell exploded and saw Boyden fall." Young
Underwood carried life insurance and the company is now
collecting proof in order to pay over the money to the mother.
Miss Margaret McCauley of Dubuque was struck by a street car and
seriously injured.
Since the discovery that two carloads of cattle were stolen from
ex-Governor Boies' farm in Grundy county, the farmers have
investigated and found that other cattle stealing has been going
on. Twelve head have disapeared from the farm of Moses Gardiner
and it is understood others have lost a few head from widely
scattered herds.
George Herr Renicker, one of the largest stockmen in Iowa and
well known shipper to the Chicago market, had his pocket picked
at the Willson House in Webster City, last Sunday in broad
daylight. His
purse and all its contents, including a considerable sum of
money, was taken.
Dora Gilbertson, a domestic employed at the Hotel Lyon at Rock
Rapids, was fatally burned by an explosion of gasoline.
[submitted by S.F., Oct. 2003]