The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-12-13
4 Sad Calamity.

Again are We called upon to chronicle n ter
rible accident which from its suddeness
shocked and distressed every sympathetic
heart in our community. In an instant 4
bright, intelligent and ambitious boy, child
OF Old age, the Youngest OF family of grown
up brothers and sisters the pride OF an aged
widow and the pet Of an older brother, with
all his hopes, was most suddenly cut off-in
the very hour Of the innocent excitements OF
a manly sport that were heightened by the
brightness of beautiful day in the woods,
that lay warm and entieing in autumnal sun
shiue and shadow. his joyous life was queneh-
ed with the suddenness of thought Grant
Matthews, in company with his brother q. G
Matthews, druggist and jeweler, s. NJ Tuck
or, ESQ, An old friend OF the family and VIM
Staneer, We're out on a hunting expedition
The party were some eight miles northeast of
Eidorado, on Spring Creek. Monday morning
at about 10 O'Clock. Grant, who was fifteen
years old, was driving the team. Having be-
Gene somewhat entangled with his vehicle in
the underbrush, Dir. Stancer put his shotgun
in the hinder part of the wagon and took the
lines to eXtricate the team. Grant, in the
mean time got down to cut h imself little
hickory. cut Of which he desired TO make
bow. The team being freed, Grant stepped
TO the rear end of the wagon and pitched his
AK in. The tool struck the lock OF the gun.
discharging it. 1t was loaded with buckshot,
the lnuzzle being close up to the end-gate, and
within fifteen inches OF Grants face. The
charge tore through the end-gate, entering
the face, neck and head OF the poor, unfortu-
nate lad, mutlaiing each in frightflll man
ner, and killing him instantly. Capt. Tucker
was standing within four feet of him and Mr.
StaEcer was still occupying the seat in the
fro1t of the wagon. His brother George was
nearly mile distant. The party with sad
hearts,. indeed, tenGerly took up the hlelsss
form OF their little companion and turned
their faces hsmewarJ. Capt. Tucker mount
ed horse and arrived in The city just at dark,
the party arriving about nine O'Clock. Jessie
Matthews, the youngest sister, absent on
visit to Macon, Missouri, was telegraphed for
and expected by last Tuesday nights train.
The other sister is the wife OF L l.. Nixon,
county surveyor elect. The other brother is
in California. The funeral will take place
from the residence OF Mrs. Matthews this
"wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.
The regular travelling correspondent of the
Learenworth Tine, who spent day in Wich-
ita two weeks since, delivers himself thusy
Nv ichita, the metropolis OF the Southwest,is
the third city in the State in the way of bust
ness, and has the same dash and spirit which
characterized it during those palmy days
when Lediord was king and when the reign
of terror was the acknowledged form of gov
ernment Wichita is fast. She don't pre-
tend to deny that soft impeachment. but not
in the way in which people who have never
visited there suppose it to be. Her bushes.
men are fast, fast enough to take the wind
completely out of the sails Of their competit-
ors; business is done fast, simply because
that lie the only legitimately recognized way
to DO ii; people live and die fast because
that's the custom of the country. Wichita
commands an immense trade, trade none of
her rivals can rob her of while each day she
is taking away from her rivals trade they in
reality ought to command. 1t is refreshing
to sojourn IN town ike Wichita; everything
and everybody are on the go; the streets are
crowded with teams from the country, every
thing denoting prosperity, push. vim, energy
and enterprise amazing to see. There IL
nothing of the mushroom in the growth of
the town, 1t is permanent; the business
blocks and residences bear evidence of this
The hotels, the Douglas Avenue and Occi-
dental, up town, and iba fremont, newly
furnished and first-class in every particular.
down town, near the depot, arc conducted
upon a metropolitan basis, are the peers of
any in the State. Wichita is well OF Tor ho-
tells, and has reason 10 be proud OF the ac-
commodatlons she can afford the traveller
Rev. j. 2. Harsen occupied the desk of the
Nj. Z. church lsst Sabbath evening. having
exchanged pulpils with Rev. Mr. Kirby
The rubject OF his discourse was Christian
Work, from individual and collective stand
points. What should be the life OF the
Christian? what the aims and work of the
Church! were SO simply. vet forcibly set
| forth that no one of his large audience could
have failed to appreciate and understand
1 His description of the various bands of
Christians, as independent organizations.
/ fighting for the same great end-marching
onward to the same final victory, was graph
iealy portrayed, while his reference TO the
enthusiasm and earnestnest of the band
known as "Methedists' was neat, timely an d
well received. Mr.. Harsen is one of the old
est ministers of this valley. an earnest Chris
tian. A faithful pastor and a most successful
man he has been, as the magnificent rev
church edidce attests fully enough, and he
may well icel proud-if his gentle nature will
alow-of the grand work accomplished.