The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-08-02
YOUNG LAD MANNED.
Joseph Smith is Crippled by
Cars at Deloit.
WAS IN STARVED CONDITION
Three Weeks Tramp for Work Ends
in Accident Which Costs Half His
Right Hand.

Manned and helpless, penniless. and
well-nigh starved, Joseph Smith was
brought to the Denison City Hospital
on Monday morning from Deloit, Were
sometime during Sunday night he had
fallen under the wheels of an Illinois
Central through freight The exact
manner OF the accident is not known,
as he was not found until early Mon
day morning when Agent G. N. Thwing
of Deloit, had occasion to 60 to the
platform to flag the west bound. flyer
He thought he had discovered corpse
at first, but soon found signs of life and
the lad was brought at once to the
Denison City Hospital where every
medical care was given him. His head
was badly bruised, there we're severe
confusion on the body, and two fingers
on the right hand we're comp letely sew
cred. He has now revived sufficiently
to tell part of mis- story, and it is a
pitiful one.
Us name is Joseph Smith and he is
the seventeen year-old son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Noah Smith, former residents of
this county. He has sister, Millie
Smith, who, for the past few years, has
been working at the Clark Dillivan
home in Milford township. According
1 to the boys story, which is corrobora.-
ed by his sister, he was on his way to
the Dlllivan home hoping to secure
work in the harvest fields of this coun-
ty. He had been employed in the
fields of Kansas and he was assured
that he could get work nere Accord
ingly he started for Iowa, leaving his
| Missouri home three weeks ago. Most
of the journey was made on foot and
his Shoes soon began to fall to pieces
his clothing became dusty and travel
worn, and soon he found himself with
out money, and refused food on account
of his tramp like appearance. He was
finally forced to the fields to eat the
growing wheat, and this, with water
made up his bill of fare.
Sunday he was IN Denison, friend
less. penniless, and was almost famish
ed. Sunday evening he caught a
freight out of Denison, hoping to reach
Deloit where he would be near his final
destination, Coming to Deloit he either
tried to jump from the moving train, OF
else fell from sheer exhaustion, and
falling too near the train he was drag
ed under the wheels with the serious
results already mentioned. He does
not know at what time the accident oc-
Cured. but it is probab bile that 1t occurr-
on about two o'clock, and that for at
least four hours he lay bleeding beside
the track.
1t seems that his father and mother
have not prospered since going to
Missouri and that the boy had been
contributing his earnings to their sup
port.
1t appears to US that this is case
whe1e the practical charity of Denison
should shlw itself. We have beautiful
homes in Denison; let Us show that we
have large hearts as we'll. Cannot some
systematic effort he made, not only to
relieve this poor boys present necessi-
ties, but to see that some path is open
ed up in life for one who is to be a crir-
pie during all his manhood days. THE
REVIEW would place the matter before
the. mothers of Denison. who haye
brave lads of their own, and we know
that. in his distress this boy will be
cared for tenderly.