The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-03-08
WON FAME As An ATHLETE
Had Been Active in Many Organizations
In Kenosha and Other Cities and Was
Prominent in Work of st. Mat
thew Mems Club in Late Years.

The entire city was shocked on Sun
day morning by the announcement Of
the tragic death Of Walter J. Cavanagh
son of Mr.. and Mrs. James Cavanagh
of Prairie avenue and son-in-law of
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles G. Brown of
Park Place.
Mr.. Cavanagh died at st. Vincent s
Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, at 6 O'Clock
Sunday morning as a result of injuries
sustained early Saturday evening two
miles east of Fremont, Ohio, when the
automobile in which he was riding
skidded and crashed into bridge. He
was picked up terribly wounded and
taken to Fremont and later hurried to
Toledo in special car and taken to
St. Vincent IS Hospital.
Mr., Cavanagh had left his home in
Toledo early Saturday afternoon to
drive to Cleveland to meet business
associates. He was travelling alone in
the automobile. He was regarded as
an expert automobile driver and he
had been in the best of spirits when
he left Fremont for Cleveland only a
few minutes before the accident oc-
Cured. As he neared the bridge he
turned out for an automobile coming
from the east and he failed to get back
to the road in time to negotiate the
bridge. The automobile crashed into
the side of the bridge and Cavanagh
was thrown out, his head striking the
concrete portion of the bridge. When
he was brought to Fremont, he was con-
scious, but he was unable to speak on
account of the fact that both of his
jaws had been broken. Surgeons who
made an examination at Fremont found
that his skull had been fractured and
that both jaws were broken and that
he had sustained internal injuries
Cavanagh was we'll known at Fremont
and his friends there showed great
loyalty to him and at once secured a
special car to take him to the hospital
at Toledo.
Mrs. Cavanagh who was i'll at her
home in Toledo had been notified by
telephone that her husband had been
injured, but she was not advised of
the very serious condition of the pa
tient. Just after seven clock Satur-
day evening Mrs. Cavanagh called her
father, Charles G. Brown, to Toledo,
but Mr.. Brown did not reach her side
before death came to Mr.. Cavanagh.
The first facts in regard to the ac-
eident were received by Mr.. and Mrs.
Cavanagh here just after nine o 'clock
Sunday morning. Mrs. Cavanagh and
r. P. Cavanagh hurried to Toledo on
Sunday afternoon and they are return
ing this afternoon in company with
Mrs. Cavanagh and her father. The
remains of Mr.. Cavanagh reached Ke-
nosha just before noon today.
For many years Mr.. Cavanagh had
been prominent in the business end So
cial life of Kenosha and the announce
nsent Of his death on Sunday caused a
profound sensation in the city. G. G.
Allen and Fred II. Carpenter who had
been close friends and college frater-
nifty brothers of Mr.. Cavanagh hurried
to Toledo late Sunday afternoon to
give such aid as they could to the mem
bers Of the bereaved family.
Walter James Cavanagh was born
at Stevens Point, Wis, August %,
1878 and was the oldest son of Mr..
and Mrs. James Cavanagh. When he
was a babe in arms, Mr.. and Mrs.
Cavanagh returned to Kenosha to
make their home and since that time
he had spent much of his life in Ke-
nosha.
He was educated at the graded
schools of the city and was graduated
from the university school in the
spring of 1896. The same year he EN-
tered the University of Chicago and
he gained early recognition as an ath-
lete. He joined the University Of Chi
cago football team in his freshman
year and for three years played center
on the team, winning high fame for
himself and his university.
Two years he was named as mem
Der of the All Western team and once
he was picked as center of the All
American team by. Walter Camp, the
famous athletic expert He gave up
his college work at the end of the
third year and returning to Kenosha
he entered the Offices Of the Latin
Rand Powder Company at Pleasant
Prairie and for some time lie was as
sistant general manager and Office
manager fer the company at the Re.
nosha county plant. Later be joined
the forces Of fhe Illinois Steel Company
at the South Chicago mill where he
was employed for two years.
Then bn aY1iS4A3 -, 4ba Do~..Io.