Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-23
Building That Was to Have
Been Their New Home Topples
Over to Crush Them
RAYMOND SMITH uNINJuRED
Lad Was Pinioned Under Timbers and
Laid for Hour and Half With Arm
cIasped About Dead Body Of Broth
er-in-Law-.TripIe Funeral at St.
Anthony.

Mayor S. A. Ramsey, of Woonsocket,
S. D., arrived In the city this morning
in charge of the bodies OF Edward At
kinson. wife and daughter, Neva, for
mer residents of LeGrand and st. An
thony, who We're killed in the storm at
Woonsocket last Saturday evening. AT
the station to meet the mayor were J..
NJ and C. w Hughes, OF this city, UNI
Giles OF Mrs. Atkinson, the latter's sis
ter, Miss Gertrude Smith of Des
Moines and other relatives and friends.
To Miss Smith was given by the
Woonsocket mayor the first intelli-
gence to the effect that her only
brother Raymond aged Z. who made
his home with the Atkinsons, was alive
and we'll. Miss Smith thought him ter
ribly injured.
Mayor Tells the Story.
Mayor Rarnsely told the T.-R the
story of the distressing accident, IN
which the entire family persisted. Mr..
Atkinson was building new home in
the north part of Woonsocket just in
the edge of town, and had finished
small barn, in which the family was
living. The house was to have been
two stories, about thirty-two feet
square, and was pretty we'll along, al
tho not yet enclosed. AT about 8
o'clock Saturday afternoon a storm
came UP, and the mayor describes 1t as
having been one of the most wicked IN
appearance that he had ever witnessed.
1t was not {, tornado, but a hard,
straight blow, accompanied by heavy
rain. Little Raymond Smith, the only
survivor of the household, is the only
one who can give the particulars, and
the mayor recited his story.
The lad states that the family was in
the barn when the storm came up, and
as the building began to sway back
ened for the safety of his family, and
decided to make run for the cellar OF
the new house. He directed his wife
to run to the southeast corner of the
house. nearest the cellar door, and with
his little daughter in his arms, and
Mrs. Atkinson and brother Raymond
following, Atkinson started for the
house. Just as the four reached the
southeast corner of the building down
came the house in utter ruins, covering
all with timbers. There they We're
found an hour and half later by the
people Of the town. Master Smith was
found covered with heavy timbers and
with his arm holding to his brother-in-
laws dead body. He was unhurt how
ever. The other three We're dead.
While many trees were blown down
about the town, and small outbuild-
ings toppled over, no other fatalities
or injuries occurred.
Mayor Takes Charge of Bodies.
Mayor Ramsey took charge of the
bodies, had them removed down town.
and the people of Woonsocket turned
in with a will to show their respect,
and to do for Master Raymond Smith.
While the Atkinsons had only been
residents Of Woonsocket since March,
they had already made many friends,
and were well liked. On the first Sum
day the Atkinsons were in Woonsocket
Mayor Ramsey says they were in at
tendance at the services OF the Metho-
dist church. Last Sunday was the
first Sunday. they had missed at church
and their absence was only because
they were cold in death.
Church Sends Flowers.
The Methodist church and Sunday
school at Woonsocket sent with the
bodies a handsome wreath of flowers
to be placed on the caskets at st.
Anthony, and the Modern Woodmen
OF Woonsocket sent another wreath.
Mrs. Ramsey, the mayors wife, who is
president Of the South Dakota w. C.
T. u, picked from her own flower
garden flowers from which third
wreath was made and brought with
the bodies by her husband, Mayor
Ramsey not only represented the peo-
pie Of Woonsocket on the sad journey
to ST. Anthony, but the Woodmen and
Methodist church as we'll.
Both Well Known.
Both Mr.. Atkinson and his wife were
we'll known in this county, where they
had lived practically all their lives.
FIR. Atkinson was native of Indiana,
having been born near Greensburg, and
was 80 years old. He married his
wife, who was Mabel Smith, in this
city twelve years ago in October, the
having taken place at the
home of the BRIDES grandfather, the
late John b. Hughes. Mr.. and Mrs.
Atkinson had but one daughter, Neva,
who died with them. The little girl
was 10 years old. Surviving Mr.. At
kinson are his aged parents Mr.. and
Mrs. William Atkinson, Of st. An
thony; one brother, John Atkinson, of
Clemens, and five sisters. One of the
sisters Mrs N. A. Julian, Of Letcher,
S. D.. arrived this morning, accom-
panied by her husband, on the same
train that brought the body. The other
sisters are Mrs. A. E. Bartine, Mrs. T.
c. Andrews, and Miss Ethel Atkinson,
Of st. Anthony; and Mrs. Burt Black
burn, OF Clemens
Mrs. Mabel Smith Atkinson, daugh-
ter of the late John and Laura Smith,
was born on the old John B. Hughes
farm, five miles east of the city. thir-
ty-two years ago. She is survived in
her fathers family by six sisters and
the one brother, Raymond. who was
he only survivor of the Woonsocket
disaster. The sisters are Mrs. Maude
Monroe. Mrs. Grace Stoddard and
\5iccae Nav and Mildred Smith oF