The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-09
FR|GHTFUL STORY
FROM THE West
Fatal Automobile Accident Resulting
in the Horrible Death
Of the Young
Man.
WOODWARD W. DUKE
IKE ALL STATUTES CITED
Son Of Former Bright and Popular
Girl Who Was
Born In This
City.

News comes from the west OF 8
horrible accident Of recent occurrence
which will have q sad int crest te
many Keokuk people. which resulted
In the horrid death Of bright, low
able young man whose mother was q
Keokuk girl, popular and worthy, and
the son visited here with relatives
whsn only about seven years of age
The mother, before marriage was
Miss Minnie Woodward, cousin to
Mr.. James B. Diver and Mrs. John H
Craig and Miss Ada Reid Of this city
She was born in this city and was
a daughter OF Henry d. woodward
who was at one time prominent and
substantial merchant of Keokuk. He
came here In the early days, in the
early fifties and left here In the early
seventies. His prominence gave him
and his family wide acquaintance
here. The son whoss sad death was
the result Of an automobile accident,
was young man of bright promise,
esteemed by all who knew him.
Woodward w. Duke was Of the kind
est disposition. He was well provided
with this worlds goods. He was OF
the family of North Carolina Dukes
OF Durham tobacco fame and whose
wealth counts them as among the
millionaire families OF the country.
Young Duke inherited large estate
from his grandfather and an expect
ant heir OF another large estate, and
it may be remarked Of him, that his
wealth and great expectations" did
not have the effect Of spelling him or
turning his head, but he remained the
same gentle. quiet loveable boy, as
nature had formed him. He was
young, ambitious, vivacious, fond of
enjoyment and seeing his friends en-
JOY themselves, but avoided the evil
which seems to beset the country OF
squandering inheritances in reckless
ness and evil habits. It seems that
everybody who knew him loved him.
He Is remembered by persons who
saw him when he visited Keokuk as
a very attractive, bright boy OF mild
and gentle disposition who would i'm,
press himself upon those whom he
met as an exceptional boy for the
kindness and gentleness of his dis
position.
Brief details of his death may be
summed up about as follows as they
came from his home at Pasadena,
Calf:
woodward w. Duke was killed near
Park City, Utah, a week after he had
left his home city for transconti-
mental tour in his big car He wired
home four days later that he had
broken the record for speed actual
driving time between Pasadena and
Salt Lake City, and much interest
was being taken in his trip not only
by the family but by his many friends
in Pasadena and Los Angeles.
He was twenty-one years old and
had lived in Pasadea for a number of
years and was very popular with the
young society set.
The automobile in which he and
MS party WSlS SPCSuiAo, Iui NOV
turtle, pinning him beneath the
wreckage, the other members of the
party escaping by jumping when the
car skiddef.
The accident was due to a wet
road and excessive speed at the
turn. Dukes arm was only visible
above the surface. His companions
we're forced to stop passing train
for assistance in releasing the body
from beneath thu car. They ran two
miles down the track to summon a
section gang, returning in hand car
to the scene of the accident.
Finally twelve men standing waist
deep succeed ed in raising the car
enough to release the body. Dukes
were then able to drag
the body to the bank Of the stream.
where first aid measures were tried
arousing sign Of life. The
body was then taken to Park City,
where physicians found that, although
erribly bruised, death was probably
caused by drowning.
The body was taken to Pasadena
or burial. He was the only son of
lis mother, who was greatly griev I'D
,ver the frightful accident which took
rom her the son whom she reared
nd loved with devotion which can
re known only to those devoted wom-
n who have experienced that truest
f all loves-mother love.