Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-01-06
A FATAL ACCIDENT
Carl RankiA Lost His Life Horseback
RidIng at Aetna Last Wednesday
Night. Lived 20 Hours After

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other tragedy saddens the hearts Of the
members Of another Of our most respected
families.
Carl Rankin died at the home Of John
Plat IN Aetna township, thiry-6ve miles
southwest Of this city at 4 o'clock P. M,
Thursday, December 81, 1908, aged
z years, 8 months and 5 days
During the week prior to bis death
Carl had been working at carpenterins
on Vim. FuIler's ranch near Aetna.
He had done considerable work in that
vicinity during last summer and fall and
became well acquainted among the
people there. On the last trip, being in
the holiday season, there were numerous
social gatherings and Carl was always one
OF the first to respond to an invitation.
On this fatal night surprise party on
Miss Hope Hodge had been planned.
All the young people Of the neighbor-
hood were planning to go. Curtis Par
sons Of this city was also doing carpenter
work at the same time and place with
Carl, and was also preparing to attend
the party. 1t was arranged for Carl and
'Oris Fuller and John Plat, r, to go
horseback while Mr.. Parsons and two
lady friends had arranged to drive over,
all starting from the Platt ranch. The
three young men started FIRST. On the
way. the horses were permitted to run at
a very high speed and at a certain point
an the road there was a turn, but the
horses, having often been ridden and
driven over the road, were accustomed
to going straight. through gate. 1t hap
pened that on this night the gate was
closed and the horses were going at such
a speed that the riders were unable to
turn them when the turning place In the
road was reached. Cafs horse was in
the lead and struck the gate FIRST. Horse
and rider fell over or through the fence
and the horse rolled over Carl. Fuller
and his horse also fell but Fuller was
unhurt. When order had been bought
Vout Of the chaos Carl was found pros
Iate on the ground and unconscious.
, IchR Pisa quickly .cde back to the
ranch and notified Mr.. Parsons and the
Plat family while Ons Fuller remained
with Carl. MIR. Parsons and Mr.. Plat
hurried to the scere with the spring
wagon and took the injured man to Mr.
Platts home. This was about 8 o'clock
Pm. DR.. Coleman Of this city and
DR.. Bruce Of Deerhead were phoned
immediately. Dr.. Bruce arrived at |
O'Clock and Dr.. Coleman at 80 and
each pronounced the injury fatal as soon
asmaking an examination. Carl fingered
until 4 p. m. the following day when he
died without regaining consciousness.
Dr.. Coleman remained with him until an
hour before his death.
The cause Of death was conclusion Of
the brain and a probable rupture Of a
blood vessel near the brain. The skull
was not fractured and there were no ex-
ternal bruises Of consequence.
w. L. Parsons drove to Aetna Thurs
day night and brought the body home
on Friday. Chas. II. Rankin, Carl's
father. went to his sons bedside as soon
as be heard Of the accident and wa.
ahere when he died. The mother wa.
unable to go on account Of the distance
and the cold weather, which is the more
distressing.
The funeral was held at the Baptist
church in this city on Saturday afternoon,
conducted by Rev. T. ]. Hudson, as
sisted by Revs. Moore and Duckett.
twas very largely attended by sympathiz-
ing friends Of the family.
Death is always attended with sad
ness but this one is sadder than usual
Carl was just entering on the responsible
ties Of life; he was hearty, robust and
had apparently many years Of promise
IN the future. and to be cut down in hi.
youthful Mgor and buoyancy without q
moments notice, away from his folks,
brings feeling Of sadness that cannot be
expressed.
He is moumed by his parents, c. H.
Rankin and wife, two sisters, Mrs. Jessie
Laughed Of Dodge City and Mrs. H
+. Luallen Of Sharon, and half brother
w. E. Lusk Of Anthony, all Of whom
attended the funeral.
He carried an accident policy Of $500
payable to his parents.
AT Aetna where he made many new
acouaintances, the people join with
his riends Of this city IN deplorins
h his death. Carl had often told his Aetna
4 fiends that he had spent some Of tn,
4 hsppiest days Of his life among them the
nasl year. and that he should have los
"a life there while on his way 10 socia
junction. Is especially sorrowful to them
In this very sad ordeal. the Index ex
tends to the parents and ether member
of the family most profound sympathy
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