Iowa
Old Press
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
Tuesday, September 20, 1904
VICTIMS ARE RECOVERING
Now Firmly Believed That Chicken Sandwiches Contained Poison
Special to the Tribune--LeMars, Ia., Sept. 20, 1904. The
victims of ptomaine poisoning at Seney and vicinity are
recovering slowly, although the case of May Osborne *, aged 10
years and Paul Reeves, aged 5, are still very dangerous. The fact
that the poisoning was due to the eating of pressed chicken at
the birthday party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Reeves is
further established by the fact that Lena *, the six year old
child of Mr. and Mrs. John Osborne, was not at the party but ate
a sandwich which her older sister, May, brought home from the
party. Mrs. Osborne also ate some of the sandwiches which her
little girl brought home and was taken violently ill some hours
afterwards. She was unable to tend her child, Lena, in the girl's
dying moments making the tragedy doubly sad. The tragedy has cast
a gloom over the little town of Seney and the calamity is deeply
deplored by all. The funeral of Lena Osborne was held at the
Methodist church this (Tuesday) afternoon and was very largely
attended. The victims who are still suffering form the effects of
the poison are: Miss Jessie Reeves, aged 17; Ralph Hughes and
Vera Hughes, aged 10 and 8, children of Ed
Hughes; May Reeves, aged 8; Earl, aged 10, the son of Elam
Chapman; Thewart, aged 11, a son of Grant Chapman; Guy, the 11
year old son of Elmer Anstine; Mrs. John Osborne; Mr. and Mrs.
George Reeves and their little daughter, Edna; a 12 year old boy
named Dougherty is also one of the sufferers. The physician in
attendance reports the case of May Osborne as extremely
precarious. The chickens which were used for edibles were killed
and dressed in the forenoon and after having been boned and
pressed were set away in crock until the evening when they were
made into sandwiches. It is supposed the hot weather generated
toxin in the chicken meat.
[transcribers notes: my records show the names spelled Mae
& Lelia; transcribed by V.R., February 2006]