The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-10-30


Panions stood by poweriess from .
I''snt. The brave lad fingered .
for several hours and then death .
. came to sooth the pain racked q,
. little body. q
= . . . . = = = = . . Q . q
Nine-year-old Robert Joseph Sittler.
tile son of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Sit
tier, 1928 Main street, was plaving
Indian in front of an improvised wig
wan Saturday morning. when his In.
dian suit caught aflre and he received
such severe burns that death ensped
early Saturday evening.
The little boys body was horribly
burned and only small portion re.
NAMED untouched. During the entire
afternoon he lay at his home writhinr
IN agony, although given every nos
sible relief that medical aid could
I suggest. Slowly, but surely. the ter
rIbie burns to his back, shoulders and
neck performed their deadly work.
and at 1880 O'Clock last night his
horror stricken parents, brothers and
sisters watched him close his ewes in
eternal rest.
The calamity Is one of the most
pathetic that has occurred in Keokuk
for some time. Following so closely
upon the tragedy enacted in the city
last Sunday it carries with it an
added horror
Inc circumstances surrounding the
lttle boys accident and his subse-
quent death makes a heart breaking
story that rivals anything Keokuk has
hau in many months.
Robert Sitter, with two comnan.
IONS, Henry Lew, a cousin, and Clar-
ence Hoffman, were playing Indian in
the back yard of the Sittler store.
The little Sitter boy was dressed in
gorgeous Indian suit and an impro.
vised wigwam had been built to add
TO the reality of both the scene and
the play. While his companions
brought TO him weeds from nearby.
young Sitter busted himself making
fire and feeding it, until it was blaz-
ing merrily Getting too near the fire
without being aware of the fact. the
lads Indian suit was soon ahame.
burning in the back and being diff
ficult to put out While his COM
panions stood by helpless the flames
almost enveloped their playmate be-
fore he could rush to a nearby water
faucet in an endeavor to put it out.
lIeroically and with true Indian stole
ism. he maintained his position under
the stream of water, squirming and
twisting SO that he cauld have the
water fall on his back With flames
eating through his Indian suit and
burning into the flesh Of his back he
remained at his post, but found that
the odds against him were hopeless
He was discovered by his father. when
the cries of the children outside we're
heard in the store, and everything
possible was done Immediately. His
burning clothes We're torn from his
body and he was wrapped in blankets
and rolled about the ground until the
flames We're completely smothered A
doctor was hurriedly summoned and
arrived in few minutes.
When Tire fire had been extneuish-
cd the limp form of the badly burned
boy was picked up tenderly and car
ried 10 the Sitter home above the
grocery store He was suffering in
tense pain, but bore up brayely, and
those about him marveled at his
courage For many hours OF the
long afternoon he was forced to sub
nit to constant treatment from the
attending physician, who stated that
his entire body was burned with the
exception of the lads feet
Robert sittler was bright youna
boy and attended the Terrence school
where he was in the fourth room. He
has a twin sister, Ruth two otha
sisters, Marie, Is, and Ruth. 9, an,
two brothers, Carl, Is, and Edwin, 3.