Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-23
INJURY IS Fatal
John Cortis, Victim in Accident,
Dies at Hospital in
Few Hours.
HORSE AFRAID OF TRAINS
cortis Thought He Would Be Able to
Handle Animal-Owens Con-
fined to Home.

the runaway accident of yesterday af-
ternoon, died last evening at ST An
thongs hospital from the injuries he
received when thrown TO the pavement
from the buggy. Mr.. COrtis. who was
% years of age and unmarried, was a
native of Chicago. He had resided
here since childhood and attended the
Rock Island schools. On finishing his
school course he worked at various
stores in the city, and was for a time
employed as a bartender by Albert
Owens, with whom he was driving at
the time of the accident He was EN-
ployed by a Chicago firm as a local
salesman of baking powder. and for a
time was a travelling salesman of the
company. He made his home with
his uncle, George Simpson while at
tending school.
He is survived by his aged father,
John Cortis. in Chicago. and three
brothers. William of Hinsdale. Rich
ard of Rogers Park, and George of
Chicago. A sister. Mrs. Minnie Nc
Kibben. resides in Rock Island. Two
of the brothers. William and Richard.
arrived in the city last evening.
COrOner's Verdict.
Coroner Eckhart was notified. and
this morning conducted an inquest at
the Knox undertaking establishment.
The jury returned verdict that Mr..
Cortis came to his death from injuries
received in a runaway accident on
Fifth avenue near the Thirty ninth
street viaduct. Irwin Cox, a farmer
residing near Hampton. was riding on
load of hay, on his way TO Rock Isl
and, and was a witness of the whole
accident. In his testimony before the
coroners jury Mr.. Cox said he had just
passed through the viaduct when he
noticed two rigs coming toward him.
| The one ahead which was driven by
! Jacob OhlweileT. was moving slowly,
but the other, in which were CoTtis and
Owens, was coming toward him quite
RAPIDLY. Just as Mr. Cox passed
through the viaduct a string of cars
passed over the bridge. and this
frightened the horse driven by Cortis.
He called to the occupant of the rig to
get out of the way, and pulled steadily
on the lines.
Vehicles Locked.
Mr.. Ohlweiler was driving too near
the curbing to permit the other buggy
to pass, and apparently did not hear
Cortis' warning The wheels of the
rear buggy locked with that of Mr.
lOhlweiler. and went on over the aXies,
striking the horse This overturned
the buggy. throwing Mr.. Owens 10 the
lground AS the collision occurred
Cortis. who was raised in his seat, was
ha an1
failing TO grasp the harness, fell 10 the
pavement. He was picked up by Sam
Willis. bricklayer who was at work
on the new GTiswold factory just OppO
site the viaduct. and by Mr.. Cox. The
ambulance and a surgeon were sum
moned and Mr.. Cortis was taken to the
hospital. where il was discovered that
his skull had been fractured and Sc
we're bruises sustained. DR.. L. E.
Bradford attended him. He was un
conscious when picked up, and did not
regain consciousness. Blood was flow
ing profusely from his nose and mouth,
and from the right ear. Mr.. Owens
was severely bruised, but was able to
go to his home He will be confined
10 his home for a few days.
I AIFulu Oh
A. j. d. Moeller, a member of the
| firm of Kautz & Moeller, who owns
! the horse Mr.. Cortis was driving. testi
fed that the horse is a G-yearold, and
had been purchased from a farmer a
little over a month ago. He said that
there was nothing wild in the animals
disposition, but that he had cautioned
/ Mr.. Cortis that the horse was afraid
of railway trains. The two men were
on their way TO Coal Valley. Neither
of them had driven this particular
horse before. and il is said that Mr..
Owens advised that they take the
horse back TO the livery. but that Cor
It's assured him that he. Cortis, was
capable of controlling il Sam Willis,
Henry Terry. William Morrison, and
| William Horn, workmen at the Girls
wold factory. testified as to the nature
| of the accident DR.. f. E. Bradford de
fined the injuries which the victim had
! sustained. William Cortis. of Hinsdale.
a brother of the deceased, testified as
10 the identity and his age and occn-
patton.
The funeral, which will be private.