West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-12-11
cnAs. p. CowAS's DEATH.
st. LouIsan One Of the Victims In
Chicago HoIoeaust--Body Will Arrive
In City Tonight-wIfe Heard News
While Shopping-Family Prominent.

From ST. Louis paper.
The body of Charles p. Cowsn, one of
the victims who persisted in the holocaust of
the Lincoln hotel in Chicago yesterday
morning. has been shipped from Chicago
and will arrive here tonight at the family
residence. 1868 Cook avenue.
The deceased was collector on Wabash
trains running between Chicago and ST.
Louis and had just completed his run into
Chicago Wednesday evening. and had NO,
his awful death occurred would have re.
turned home last night. Mr.. Cowan was
man OF about a and had been with the
Wabash road for several years. On the oc-
easion Of his trips to Chicago he was not
accustomed TO staying at the Lincoln, and,
in fact, his people state that IL was the first
time they had known of him stopping at
that hotel II is supposed that the hotel at
which he was accustomed to stay while in
Chicago was full and that he was obliged to
seek accommodations elsewhere, this circum-
stance being responsible for his death.
He was member OF prominent family
lived here for many years. The elder Cow
ans death occurred about fifteen years ago.
Chas. p. Co~an leaves q widow and three
children, all boys under age, and many rel
atives in this city Kansas City and Keokuk,
Iowa. His aged mother makes her home
with his family at 1868 Cook avenue. Arthur
Cowan, brother, living in Kansas City,
has been notified Of his brothers. tragic end
and will arrive tonight. after which the ar
rangemenis for the funeral will be complet.
ed. A sister, Mrs. Tichener of Keokuk,
Iowa. Mas also been notified and will like.
wise arrive for the funeral. Mrs. Robert
Woodson, another sister, 10 a resident of
this city.
The circumstances under which Mrs.
Cowsn first learned Of her husbands death
we're peculiarly sad. She had gone down.
town yesterday morning to do some shop
ping and went into one of the large dry
goods stores, where one of the saIeswomen
was personal friend Of the family. Upon
inquiriug at this store for her friend she
was told by one Of the other ssleswomen,
who was stranger TO her aud did not know
the identity of the shopper, that the sales
woman for whom she had asked had gone
bus short time before to the home OF Mrs.
Cowan to notify her of the death OF her
husband in the Chicago hotel FIRE.
The news almost prostr.ted the suddenly
beresved woman, but, bravely recovering
herself she FASTENED to Union station to see
her husbands chief, the superintendent of
collectors for the Wabash, to obtain from
him confirmation of the news. She failed
to see the superintendent, however, and, al
most distracted, she FASTENED to her home,
only to lind that the news was indeed true
Later additions of an afternoon paper con-
tanned statements TO the effect that her hus-
band was one of those who had been rescued
from the flames, and this gave her TEN.
porary hope, which was soon after dissipated
by confirmation of the first news she had
received.
Mr.. Cowan was a member of the Knights
of Pythias, in which order his father had
been prominent national officer, having
resigned his position on the Kansas City
bench to become the supreme keeper of the
records and seal for the order.