The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-01
A STORY OF SORROW.

A STORY OF SORROW.
Words are inadequate to express
our deep sorrow as we pen these lines
relative to the sudden death of
Alender p. and Ralph 4. Servey,
caused by the fierce storm that passed
through here on last Thursday about
$50 d. m. Alender Iwas seventeen
wears. two months and twenty-three
days old, was an energetic young man,
and on account ofhis/ father necessari-
" being absent from home a great
portion of the time, the work and
management Of the farm had for the
past two years been almost entirely
trusted to his care, and the success.
full manner in which he performed
his task would be a worthy example
for many persons of long experience.
But to speak of the more noble traits
of his character, we only utter the
sentiment of all who knew him, when
we say that integrity, forbearance,
and reverence were the constituent
principles. He had learned to cherish
the kind advice and instructions of
pious parents, and to pattern his
conduct after the most refined examples
of moral perfection.
Ralph was seven years, three months
and two days old. He was an exceed
ingly bright youth, and we could not
help but notice the pleasant and loving
look that played on his features
for hours after life was extinct. We
do not give the expression undue lat
itude to say of him, that the hand of
death has roughly plucked from parent
embrace, one of the loyeliest, and most
perfect buds of promise.
The storm that brought the
household of A. j. Servey 10
this great sorrow pursued
southeasterly course, but at no place
was the fury of the storm SO great, or
its pressure 50 keenly felt, as it was at
Mr.. Servey's. The main force of the
wind seemed to be confined to a
narrow strip, either carrying away
or displacing every thing that CHANGED
to be i'm its way. After the most
powerful breath of the storm had been
expelled Mrs. Servey looked out and
saw that the smoke house had been
entirely swept away and knowing
that the boys calender, Lafey and
Ralphl were at work in the barn, her
fears were aroused as to their safety.
She at once started for the barn but
on seeing the ruined condition of the
building she paused for moment and
only by mothers love was she en-
abled to proceed to the spot that she
felt confident would disclose to her
vision a scene of horror, and as she
looked over the embankment her
apprehensions were deepened to the
most heart crushing sorrow by the
sight that she witnessed. There was
Lafey a boy IL years old, firmly held
in an awkward position, buried In
rocks up to his waist, struggling to
| free himself from this crushing load.
A little to the West, or nearer to the
place where the wall once stood was
huge pile of rocks, dirt and gravel,
which concealed the dead bodies OF
Alender and Ralph. Mrs. Servey
soon succeeded in extricating Lafey,
and although on account of his bruised
condition he was obliged to crawl part
of the way, he faced the pelting storm
with manly courage until he reached
the house. Loey had gone to near
neighbors for help, but before any
person arrived Mrs. s. had the faces of
both of the other boys uncovered.
But as each of their heads were badly
crushed, it was evident that death was
| instantaneous.
The barn was 32x4O feet, with an
underground story, the wall of which
was nine feet high. The wall had been
built about ten years, but the wood
work of the barn was erected six weeks
before the storm. 1t was carried by
the wind to the south east about 1.
feet at the same time the west wall
near which the boys were standing
crumbled clean to the ground with
the result before stated. At the time
of the storm Mr.. s. was out at Piqua
and knew nothing of its destruction
until the sad news of the death of his
bows was carried to him. Tit
: funeral.services were conducted by Rev
s. NJ. Irwin at the residence on Frida!
at IL o'clock.
Never has death or misfortune il
this community caused more of al
overflow of sympathy for bereav
ed friends, than is felr for Mr.. Servey'
family, and we cannot more perfect,
describe the feeling of the people thai
to say that relatives weep, and al
sorrow deeply. Z. L.. A.