Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-16
SURVIVES MANY MIsHAPs,
NOW 81 YEARS OF AGE
TrampIed by Herd of Steers, Kicked by
Mules, Hurt in Many Thrilling Run
aways, Struck by Lightning, Faced
Starvation in Desert, and Almost
Frozen to Death.
.ecial to Times-Republican.

ribs fractured repeatedly because of
falls and runaways; his skull fractured
by plunge downstairs, due to SOM
horses and recalcitrant mules; tram
pied by infatuated steers; endangered
by robbers and Indians; half choked
and starved on the alkali plains of the
far west; the victim Of more than fifty
accidents of greater or less gravity
Henry Walker, formerly justice Of the
peace and supervisor Of johnson coun-
ty. today lives to tell the tale.
He could be described as hale and
hearty" We're he not just out Of the
hospital, carrying a dislocated right
shoulder-the effects of his latest fall
in sling.
Mr.. Walker has been picked up for
dead" so many times that he speaks
jestingly Of his accidents-even those
involving a near approach to death.
With this record. he enjoys the novel
distinction of being the most frequent
ly injured man in all Iowa-dating
from boyhood to old manhood-and his
escapes from horrible deaths outnum-
Der those Of the stage villain or hero,
AL q QuO0C1A IL Ii1OAOA4 olAAos
Now 81 Years of Age.
He is now 81 years of age. and his
remarkable record Of mishaps and mis-
foftunes began about 70 years ago.
when he came hither, boy of II, from
his birthplace in Portage county, Ohio.
Despite his manifold accidents, his
life has been energetic and fruitful.
and to this day he is as bright and
col nc 1yo,,tI, II, bis toors and
is as active and energetic (when not in
a surgeons hands) as man forty
years his junior. During his long and
busy life, he has amassed fortune in
rich Iowa farms and now occupies and
constantly cares for his LOO acres
along the shores of the Iowa river In
johnson and Washington counties.
Two Of these acres, at River Junction,
he recently donated to the Old Settlers
Association Of that village as a park,
wherein to hold reunions hereafter for
all time.
Mr.. Walkers recent accident
caused him to grow reminiscent, and
he reviewed some Of the almost count
less mishaps Of his eventful life
Among these were the following:
Some Of His Mishaps.
Attack OF black erysipelas-sight OF
one eye lost.
Engaged in wrestling match-arm
broken near shoulder.
Fell out Of haymow-broke several
ribs.
Slipped, while carrying water-sev-
eral ribs broken.
Trampled by herd Of forty-four
maddened stampeding steers = three
ribs fractured.
Runaway mules. attached to stir
ring plow, dragged him across a 4O-rod
ield-three ribs broken.
Another time, runaway mules car
ried him in a wrecked wagon fourteen
miles, and he escaped with bruises.
Three horses, attached to sickle,
dragged him thru a hayfield-sickle
passed completely over Unexpectedly
cut and bruised.
Mules, attached to hayrake, dragged
him over a long field-leg broken at
thigh; this bone he SCI and the wound
he dressed himself.
Lightning struck and killed cattle
and other stock near which he was
working in field, and stretched him
senseless among their dead bodies-re-
covered, unburned
Lightning struck his house and
knocked him unconscious-recovered,
unmarked.
While on a Journey. by foot, driving
500 cattle to a point tWenty-six miles
from his home, he was lost in deep
snow drifts. He was found. uncon-
scious; revived with difficulty. after
his fingers and part Of one ear were
frozen off. His nose was also frozen.
A colt, which he was breaking,
"broke," and threw him-both bones OF
his lower right leg broken.
In somnambulistic state, he plunged
down long stairs-skull fractured on
the top and at the base; nose broken.
In Many Runaways.
Besides these Enumerated accidents.
Mr.. Walker recalls a score of other
runaways in which his life and limbs
were temporarily imperilled, but out
out of which he came-mirabile dict
unscathed. Many times he was thrown.
kicked and dragged by fractions horses
and yet suffered no broken bones and
no injuries OF lasting character.
One cold winter night, in the midst
Of a fierce Iowa storm, his house caught
fire, and Mr.. Walker, then past 20
years Of age, clanrbered to the top Of
the three storied building, and, on the
ice-covered steel roof. fought the
flames for an hour. Unaided, except
by those who attached buckets OF water
to the rope ne lowered, he extinguished
the fire. 81 am my own fire depart
ments," AYERS the old man quantity.
The country home. which so nearly
became food for the flames. is typical,
by the way, Of Mr.. Walkers character.
He built this structure himself, and
manufactured the bricks from which 1t
was constructed. For this purpose.
he built kilns on his farm.
A Great Pedestrian.
AS a pedestrian, he proved his Prov
ess long years ago. when he walked to
the government offices in Iowa to stake
his claims This meant tramp to
Dubuque distance Of 120 miles-and
proved his patronymic no misnomer.
Such a journey afoot was but child s
play, moreover. to the man who had
worked for himself since he was II
years old, and who, at the age Of 20,
when inspired by the gold fever" had
walked over death bearing plains to
California. AS a "49er" he covered that
distance, on foot in seven months, ar
irving in the gold dields with one yoke
Of oxen He had started with seven.
Strewn along his pathway were sew
ere! hundred lad indians whose Mv.