The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-05
AN OLD TIMERS FATE
Seven People Killed and a Number
Injured by the Falling Of an
Omaha Building.
THROWN FORTY FEET.
One Of the Best Known and Most Pros
porous OF Montana's Pioneers
The History of a Sue
cessful Career.

MIssoULA, Feb. 4.-[Speclal TO the Inde-
pendent IA gloom was thrown over this
community this morning by the sad and
startling news that Maj. Washington
Mccormick had been killed yesterday. A
few OF his friends heard that he had been
injured by a fall during the day at Stevens
vile, but no one suspected anything SER
ious. About o'clock last evening a spec
ial train with physicians and Mrs. McCor-
mick left here for Fort Owen, the home OF
the deceased, arriving there shortly after 8
o'clock and finding that Mr.. Nc
Cormick had expired about s p. m.
IL seems that during a heavy gale
yesterday the roof on one of the buildings
on the ranch became loosened and Mr..
Mccormick assembled 10 weight them down,
when heavy wind raised the roof from
the entire structure, carrying the deceased
with Il distance Of forty feet, falling
heavily upon the frozen ground. When
rescued from the debris the major was
found to be unconscious, In which condi-
tion he remained until his death. An ex-
animation showed that one leg was broken
near the thigh and the skull fractured by
the terrible fall. Major Mccormick, or
wash" as he was more famlliarly called,
was one OF the Oldest residents and largest
property holders In the town OF Missoula.
Mr.. Mccormick was perhaps as widely
known as any man In the territory and the
news OF his death was a shock to his many
friends. Always an unc0mpromising dem
and respected the man. He was born in
Indiana In 1885 and was educated at As
bury university In that state. He went to
Utah In 1857 with bis law preceptor Chief
Justice Eckles. In 1851 he returned TO In
diana, and In 1868 came To Montana, arriv-
log In Virginia City Sept 10. He at once
took an active part In politics and the fol-
lowing year represented Madison county
in the first territorial legislature. From
Virginia City Mr.. Mccormick removed to
Deer Lodge In 1855 and In the fall of
that year was elected to represent Deer
Lodge and Missoula counties in the
territorial council In 1857 Mr.. Meteor
mick was appointed q special Indian agent
and had charge Of the Flathead agency for
one year, locating In Missoula In 1883,
where he lived up % the time OF his death.
ht ttBitocuttu nlttbuulu county III tut
legislature from 1915 10 1879 and was q
member OF the democratic territorial GEN.
tral committee since 1871. He WAS chair
man OF the democratic territorial conven-
tions of 1880 and 1882. He was frequently
a delegate in county conventions, several
times being presiding officer. He was an
alternate 10 the national convention OF 1884
and was by that body made q member OF
the national central committee Mr.. Ne
COrmiek rpDrpaqu ufqd Misaoula eounfv ir,
the constitutional convention. He was
happily married Be- q Miss Higgins, sister
OF Captain Higgins. Mr.. Mccormick was
always thrifty and owned large real estate
interests In Stevensyille and other parts OF
Missoula county. Besides practiciDg law.
which he did not follow regularly, Mr.. Nc
Cormick frequently tried his hand at
| newspaper work. He was vigorous, for
chile writer with an unmstakable person
| ality In all his writings. His wife and
seven children survive him. The funeral
will take place Wednesday.