Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-09-13
SAD DEATH or MRS. HECKART


Fell From the stair Landing at Her New
Home and Broke Her Neck.
What Is so sudden as deathl
Whether the last one to answer
the grim summons was called
from a life sanetihed by long
suffering and disease, or was cut
off in the very bloom and vigor
of youth, we are startled by the
suddenness Of the dissolution.
The admenition "In the
midst of life we are In death, -
was never more impressively ex-
emplifed than by the sad termi-
nation of the earthly life of Mrs.
o. w. Heckart last Wednesday
night. AT the very pteudest
and happiest moment OF her ex-
istance, when her fendest hopes
seemed soon to be realized, aad
the futare so full Of promise,
Deaths icy fingers clutched hef
heart.
Their new home, one of the
finest in the city, had just been
Completed, and Mr., and Mrs.
Heekare thesght it fitting that it
be dedicated by reception held
in hener Of the new pastor, Rev.
R, L. Nelly, Of the Presbyterian
church, OF which they beth were
members. Accordingly, about
100 guests responded to their
kind invitation, ana no more
happy gathering ever attended a
social event in this city. Glad
Of her privilege to be able to
give pleasure to her friends, Mrs.
Heckart was overjeyed.
About II o'clock the last
guest departed, aUd Mrs. Heck
art retired to her room on the
second floor of her dwelling.
Ever thoughtful Of the comfort
of others, she feared that little
nephew, sleeping in an adjoining
feem, might not have sufficient
covering, and she went to care
fer him. Shortly after, Mr..
Heekars heard a noise as Of
someone falling, and he called
to his wife. There was ne ans
wer. Quickly dressing himself
lie lit lamp asd went to invas.
tigate. In the hall at the foot
Of the stairs, limp and metien-
less, lay the one dearer to him
than life. He spoke her maine,
and asked if she was severely
hurt, she seemed to have perfect
consciousness, but cosld utter no
seund. The stricken husband
summoned Mrs. Martha Barnett,
who had attended the reception,
and had not yet retired at her
home across the street. Thos.'
Callahan went quickly for DR..
Pefnot, but all that medical skill
and loving hands could do was
Of no avail,
''For when the morn came, dim and sad,
And chill with early showers,
Her quiet eyelids closed; she had
Another morn than ours %
Ne ene will ever know Just
how the sad accident happened.
Mrs. Heckart occupied the reefn
just at the head Of the landing.
The guard TO this landing had
not yet been bailt, and it is be-
lieved that In returning from
her hephew's reem ia the dark
ness, Mrs Heckars misteok the
light from a Window over the
stairway fer the deof to her room,
and stepped eff the landing, fall.
Ing heaulonS TO the noor some
ten feet below. Her neek was
broken and shese1pired Ia twea-
| ty minutes. Mrs. Carrie Heck
art was born at Blakesburg,
Iewa,June 18, 1863. She was
united ID marriage with w. o.
Heckars at that city, December
20, 1883, and together they
came to Oregon In November,
| 1859. At the age Of 10 years
she became a member of the
Presbyterian church, and she
united with that congregation in
this city Ia 1890.
I Mrs. Heckare was the highest
type Of christian woman; devoted
| to her husband, true to he1