Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-08-20
A Terrible and Untimely Death.

A Terrible and Untimely Death.
Like thunderbolt from the blue sky,
came the intelligence 10 the bereaved
family and the people Of Custer gener-
ally, last Monday afternoon, .hat J. A.
Dodds, business man Of this city, had
been thrown from his horse and fatally
injured, while riding between the town
and the slaughter house, a mile or two
beyond the western limits. The news
was brought to town by the young son
Of Jos. Peltz, who was with the unfor.
tunate man at the time Of the accident,
and a number Of men and team were
Immediately dispatched 10 bring him to
his home. DR.. Fisher was called TO do
what he could for the dying man, and
an examination proved that the skull
had been fractured just in front of the
right ear. and that the brain had suffer
ed severe conclusion. 1t was clear to
the doctor that the end was but a few
hours distant. From the time when the
accident occurred, between 3 and 4
o'clock Monday sf.srnoon, until 6 o'clock
in the evening, Mr.. Dodds was consci-
Gus. He suffered but little pain, and
despite the physicians hopeless view Of
the case would not believe that his in
juries were necessarily fatal. About
seven o'clock he became unconscious,
and remained so until be died at twenty
minutes of one Tuesday morning.
Young Peltz gives the following ac-
count of the accident: He started with
Mr. Dodds for the slaughter house about
three o'clock in the afternoon. assisting
him TO drive beef out, which was 10 be
butchered. Dodds was riding a colt
only partially broken, and leading the
COW by rope which was attached to
the horn of his saddle. The COW was
inclined to be fractious, and just before
reaching the slaughter house, managed
to run around the horse, entangling it
in the rope, and causing the animal to
pitch violently. The rider was finally
unseated, and fell to the ground, strik-
ing his head against rock and suffering
the injuries stated above.
Funeral services were conducted at
the Congregational church by Rev. J.
V. Willis, at 3 o'clock Tuesday after
noon. A large number Of pathizing
and mourning friends attended, and
followed the remains 10 their last resting
place, in the beautiful home Of the daaA-
CuAtcT OenIcUoIy.
Jesse A. Dedds, the deceased was horn
in Flemming county, Kentucky, Dec.
9th, 1856, from which place his parents
removed 10 H., when he was but two
years Of age. Mr.. Dodds located in Ne
braska in in 1879, and October 18th,
1888, was married TO Helen |. Conway,
who with FIVE small children, survives
him. His father, two brothers and
three sisters are also living
He came to Custer, accompanied by
his wife and little ones. about two years
ago, and engaged in the meat business.
He was industrious and attentive to his
work, honorable in his dealings. and
was getting his business on a footing
where it would pay him well, when he
vas so suddenly called away For some
time he had carried accident and life in
surance, but unfortunately allowed 1t to
lapse just few days prior to his death
This sudden and unexpected bereave
ment of the wife and children should
commend them TO the kind and tender
hearts of the good people of Custer City.
They have suffered loss more terrible
than any other could possible be, and in
these hours of poignant grief, need the
kindest care of friends and neighbnrs
We should remember that this husband
and father so suddenly called from our
midst, was one of US, who stood with his
shoulder to ours, fighting with us the
battle Of life, laboring for his home and
his family; that he was taken away in the
prime of life, when he was needed most,
and that he had no time or opportunity
to do what he might otherwise have
done for the dear ones he leaves behind
him. We should remember that death
is no Iespecter Of persons, that it gives
no warning. and should do as we would
that ours might be done by, under
similar circumstances.