The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-29
PLUNGED TO DEATH
Mrs, Eaton Falls So Feet to
the Sidewalk.
BODY HORRIBLY CRUSHED
1t Was Beyond Question Pure
Iy an Accident,
BODY HORRIBLY CRUSHED


streets. al twenty minutes TO . p. m. yes
terday, Mrs. Clara Eaton fel ffty-fve feet
10 the stone-paved sidewalk and was in
stantlv killed. Her neck was broken, her
law was broken, her arm and left leg
was broken.
She clutched at air-seemed to be reach
ing for something to save herself-passed
swiftly down till the second floor was
reached. turned once around and hit the
sidewalk face downward, dislocating her
neck, crushing her body and breaking her
bones. She lay upon the stone walk limp
and dead. Five minutes before she had
gene to the Sedgwlck building on an er-
rand, went To the fatal window leaned out
and ,ost her balance and fell
There was no eye witness to the fall from
within the building. No one saw the
plunge The body was seen by several
after it emerged from the window in the
descent to death.
Mrs. Eaton was seen in the afternoon at
Morris .sioe store She was not feeling
well and complained Of stomach trouble.
She looked paler than usual. She went to
Dr.. J. NJ Minick and got some medicine.
Will Parker, Clerk for the Weinschenk
Grocery company, saw Mrs. Eaton in the
afternoon and sold her some small articles
but a short time before the accident. Par
ker delivers groceries 10 the Hollyoke cot
tage on FairmOunt. where Mrs. Eaton was
employed as housekeeper. She seemed in
good spirits and joked as usual when he
saw her
Mrs. Carter found her IN good mood and
the best Of spirits. The elevator boy also
observed that she was in pleasant frame
of mind.
Everything indicates that the fatal fall
was an accident. Her presence in the
Sedgwic building was for the purpose Of
sending Benjamin Pott out to the dormi-
tory at Paramount to do some work. He
was wanted for next Friday.
While there is no evidence that Mrs.
Eaton was subject to dizziness or faint
ing spells, it is most likely she went to
the third floor by some mistake, and then
after walking up two fights of stairs was
IN a weak condition. She went to the
window TO get fresh air and in leaning out
was overcome and fell. It might be she
was looking for someone on the street
There were some girls on Market street
practicing on bicycles, and It IS said she
seemed to be watching them. This is only
a surmise
Taking everything together, there can be
but one conclusion, that it was an acct
dent. Her mood is inconsistent with any
other theory. Her hopeful disposition has
the same meaning She was planning
little entertainment for next week out on
Paramount and had talked the matter
over with friends. and seemed to be an
ticipating great enjoyment out of the
meeting of good friends, to come out to
the college. where she had intended TO
have together college folks.
DR.. S-utz. OF whose church she was
member speaks of her fine qualities and
so do all OF the church people. 1t was
an accident terrible accident.
Her character is mentioned in the high-
e. terms by everybody who ever had any
thing TO do with her the Boston store.
lines & Co. Mss Flora Anderson. dress
maker. Scott & Whine and a host Of
others A great crowd Of friends came 10
see her as She lay crushed and dead al
the undertakes. There was one accord as
to her upright character. Much sympathy
was expressed for Rob, her son. who viii
be IS in a few days.
Mrs. Eaton is wen connected. Her father
IS a prominent man in Elk county. living
az Howard. and was once district clerk of
that county. He is prominent in church
and social circles and highly respected.
His name is Keenan, Hurst. One son.
Daniel Hurst. lives at Cheney, a grain
buyer; Charley Hurst IS the bookkeeoer
for the American Type Foundry company
at Kansas City; Miss Ionic Hurst IS the
principal of a seminary in Tennessee. and
Miss Lotte Hurst is with her father in
Howard Mrs. Eatou's husband has been
dead nine years and she has one child,
Robert Eaton. She has been earning her
way in the world. and for some time she
was little embarrassed financially For
the last TWO years she has been getting on
pretty We'll She was a good business wom-
an and Industrious. She met the struggle
OF life bravely ana hopefully. Her boy
Rob was wiling 10 90 his part and helped
wherever he could get anything 10 do. He
worked for Wells Miller. Tor the Boston
store and four years ago was in w Z
Stanleys Office n short time lie is now
In school at Paramount. lie was very fond
OF his mother, and her sudden death has
been terrible shock 20 aim She had a
thousaad-doi.av life insurance policy in the
New York Life for her son.
a representative ~ the EaEie called TO
see Rob Eaton las- uleht az C. E. Fhls
SOS North Topeka. He was almost pros
trated from the shock Of his mothers
death. lie could only De seen 81 short time
and he verified the history Of his mothers
family connection. and gave some account
IF himself. He says his mother had not
been 50 wei for week or so. bur that
she Was noc subject 90 sinking or faintins
spells. She went TO the doctor because she
felt the need of som thing in the way Of
medicine though she was not seriously
SICK a all When told thar Mr.. Whine
had heard from his uncles and thar they
''oa.d be in this morning, he seemed much
cLeevej
FELL FROM FIFTH STORY.
There was some speculation whether the
fall was from The third or the af,h story.
The evid nee IS pretty much au 40 The
effect ta1t she I'll from She fs.h story
The fac, that she s1- Of at the tbirf ana
dc nor ride u0. as was hey custom. makes
me elevator boys opinion Of some weight
ihat she te- from tae ta.-d story. Why
dld she SCI on az ,ae th.-d aoore WHY
did sh- walk up ,wo flights n s.asrse No
theory may oe expected SO explain every
tang 70 7lr perfect satisfaction. The
question why she sot OF at Tie third ana
Wa-kld Up TO Che dt,h floor can not stand
against the demonstrated fact thar She
did do this very thina
MISS ELSIE AIESSERvE.s STORY
..Dn Won knnrH NJ S.r,h 49,.