Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-05
Council Bluffs
Death of w, 0. Writ
Takes Pioneer Man
Of the Bluffs City

The death Of w. o. Writ. which oc-
CURED at his home. ZIG Willow avenue,
caused keen regret among the many pco-
Pile who had known him for more than
generation. Mr.. Writ was one Of the
pioneer successful business men OF Coun-
Gil Bluffs. lie established the first candy
factory in this part OF the country, and
thirty-five years ago, the firm OF Writ
q Duquette was one OF the best known
In western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.
Mr.. Duquette. father OF r. l.. Duquette,
head OF the De Vol Hardware company,
took over the candy making business
when Mr.. Writ retired 10 turn his at
tention 70 larger fields OF enterprise. and
later. John q. Woodward took his place
In the firm. The factory thus became
the nucleus OF the present immense plant
Of the woodward Candy company
For many years M Writ was engaged
In the mining business In Colorad and
became associated with some OF the
large development enterprises there. In
lSo2 he nearly lost his life during mining
strike troubles there. for which he had
no responsibility and was not in any way
connected A sheriff had been marked
for slaughter and q band oS assasslns
MA AAOuk NhN NOtu VNtT NAAeh Nv NoN
known 10 be about 10 travel. The sheriff
did not make the expected trip, but Mr..
Writ, in company with a number OF
friends, passed the point where tho muir
derers were hiding, Writ was riding
ahead and in the darkness the gunner
mlstook him for the hated sheriff and
opened fire with winchesters. A biz
bullet tore through the bones Of his left
wrist and several others cut his clothing
The startled horse carried him beyond
range and he soon reached a friendly
ranch. While he was trying TO aid the
ranchman TO rave his life by stoppinE
the flow OF blood from the severed artery
the assassins rode up and surrounded
tho house. They ordered the ranchmar
TO bring out the wounded sheriff or the,
would riddle his house with bullets. II,
had great difficulty in inducing them q
come into the house and convince them
selves that they had shot a friend In
stead Of an enemy. Finally. after half ,
dozen rifles had been thrust through tn,
windows, the leader entered with a biz
revolver olutched in each hand. HI
found Writ. whom he knew and great,
loved, almost dead from the arterla
|
OF the wounded man as they expected to
they sent horsemen after the neares
physician and gave all assistance the,
could and finally got him to a Denve
hospital.
Mr.. Writ refused TO denounce them
The injury to the wrist left him a crippl
for life. The hand and arm withere,
and became useless. The injury az
fected his health and was the ultimat
cause Of his death, inducing the paral
ysis from which he died. Only a fey
years ago Mr.. Writ met the man VIII
had shot him. The sight OF the with
cred arm brought tears to his eyes an
he told Mr. Writ that he would no
blame him II he denounced him for tn
murderous assault.
Mr.. Writ was a Mason of exemplar
character and also member OF I'll
Woodmen OF the World. During all Q
his long period of residence in this cit
he was a member OF the First Presby
terrain church. His widow. one son an
one daughter survive him. The funers
will be held this morning at II ocIoc
at the residence. The services will b
conducted by Rev. F. w. Evans. Buris
will be in Fairview cemetery.