Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-27
Mrs. C. v. Howard Meets With
Terrible Fate While Return
ing From Party
BUGGY uPsETs IN DARKNESS
Four Occupants Hurled in Ditch and
Horse Falls on Two Women-Mrs.
Howard is Drowned Before 1t is
Possible to Rescue Her-Mss ona
Butler, of LaMolle, Slightly Injured.

Mrs. c. V. Howard, wife of an Iowa
Central fireman, living at 1905 Iowa
street. met a terrible fate at about
midnight Thursday, while returning
from a happy evening, spent at the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Watson Ramsey.
two miles southeast Of LaMoille. Mrs.
Howard was on her way to LaMoille
in a single buggy, in which were also
riding her husband, Miss Ora Butler
and Mr.. Oscar Woodard. The horse,
unable to keep the road, on account
of the darkness and rainstorm, turned
into ditch. Tie occupants Of tn.
vehicle were precipitated into the Gull
vert and Mrs. Howard, pinned down
by the weight of the horse, drowned
before she could be extricated.
The accident was most terrible one
and it is only strange that more fatal
:ties did not occur. Miss Buffers es
cane was most miraculous, as she too
fell under tire heavy body OF the horse
and was only released as the animal
struggled to gain his feet. AS 1t Was
she only sustained slight bruises about
the head.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ramsey reside on the
Frank Butler farm. two miles south
east of LaMoille. For Thursday ev-
ening they extended invitations to a
number of LaMoille young people to
enjoy their hospitality. The evening
hours had passed and the gathering
broken up just abo;yt midnight. Among
the guests were Mr.. and Mrs. &. Y.
Howard, Of this city, who had been In
vited to spend the remainder of the
night at the home of Mrs. Warren
Woodland, in LaMoille. Oscar Wood
ard. Mrs Woodlands son, was to take
them home, and with the party was
Miss Ona Butler, daughter Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Butler, who was to be
left at her parents home one mile east
of LaMoille, on the way TO town. IL
was raining hard and the night was
very dark, Mr.. Woodland not being ape
to distinguish the outline of the road.
Like all drivers he gave the horse the
road and trusted to him. The amman
started out with a will, his load belns
quite heavy one for the wet and
slippery ground. The party had no.
driven more than twenty rods from tn"
Ramsey home until the horse walked
into the end of a culvert. about three
or four feet deep, and containing from
twelve to fifteen inches of water. IRE
front wheels of the buggy went down
with suddenness that threw all OF the
occupants out. The horse struggled
with his fore feet to gain the opposite
bank. slipped, and fell backwards,
alighting on top OF the two PROSTATE
women. Both were pinned down and
were crying for help. The horse kept
struggling fer foothold and the wet
ground caused him to slip at every eff
fort. The men. fortunately, managed
to gain their feet and as the horse
struggled were able to release Miss
Butler. Mrs Howard was lying still
and moticnless, the weight of the horse
having knocked the breath from hef.
The horse was urged to make another
effort to rise, in order that the woman
body might be removed from under
him. AS The animal made another
lunGe forward Mrs. Howard fell over,
face downward in the water. Before
It was possible to again reach her she
was dead. The body was taken to the
Ramsey home, and later removed to
the Simkins undertaking parlors in this
city. Coroner Lierle viewed the re
mains this morning and made an ex-
animation as to the extent of injuries.
To all outward appearances no in
iuries were sustained that would have
caused death, had not the woman's
head been buried under the water.
few slight scratches We're sustained
about the head and face, and the body
was more or less bruised. So far as
can be seen no bones were broken, and
there is no fracture of the skull.
Mrs. Howard was a young woman,
20 years of age, and was formerly Miss
Susie Jackson, of Dallas county, Texas.
She was married May 15, 1889, at Dali
las, to Mr.. Howard, and came north
shortly afterwards, locating at Luray.
From there they moved to the Packard
farm. north of the city, and two years
ago came to town.
The funeral arrangements have not
vet been definitely arranged, but 1t Is
likely the services will be held Sunday
afternoon, from the residence. Cor
-.