Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-03
SERGEANT SMITH
DIES OF INJURIES
young Rock Islander, Thrown From
Motor Bus Near Camp Dodge, to
Be Buried Tomorrow.
SORROW AMONG HIS ASSOCIATES
Had Won Wide Popularity in Canton.
ment and Had Gained Quick
Recognition.


aged % years, member Of Company B,
Three Hundred and Thirteenth field
signal battalion who was seriously in
inred in a motor bus accident at
Camp Dodge, Des Moines, early Fri
DAY morning, died at $40 o'clock Sat
urday afternoon. Mr.. and Mrs. George
smith. 500 Twenty-rourth street, the
parents, were at his bedside when the
end came.
Sergeant Smith was injured while
returning to Camp Dodge from Des
Moines. Smith and Robert Gregg, also
A member Of the signal corps, were
standing on the running board of
crowded machine when the accident
occurred. Joe was facing Gregg with
his back TO the front Of the car and as
the bus approached within 100 feet of
the signal corps barracks, the machine
was stopped suddenly. Smith was
thrown forcibly to the cement pave
ment. striking on the back OF his head,
receiving a conclusion Of the BRAIN
The machine in which the injured man
WAS riding was forced 10 stop sudden
Ivto avoid a collision with an automo-
bile directly ahead. Smith was picked
no by Gregg and other fellow soldiers
ia a semi-conscious condition. He
was rushed to the regimental infirm-
airy OF the Three Hundred and Fifty
FIRST infantry and then to the base hos
pltal An X-ray revealed blood
clol at the base of the brain.
It was deemed unnecessary to operate
on Friday, but on Saturday morning
paralysis had set in and an operation
was performed, Sergeant Smith never
reEhined consciousness after the oper-
alton Before the operation he had sew
oral moments Of consciousness wheT
he recognized his parents, who haC
arrived from Rock Island.
Rapid Promotion.
Sergeant Smith probably was one o
tho best liked men in the signal corp!
battalion at Camp Dodge and hi
death brought sorrow TO the hundreds
Of soldiers at the camp who had be
come acquainted with him. His kind
ly disposition and pleasing personal
ity had made him a favorite with al
who met him. Lead by First Lieuten
ant A. E. Herzberg Of Company B, tn
whole signal corps Of ESQ member
marched behind the body Of thei
companion from the undertaken
establishment in Des Moines to tn
railway station. At the depot shot
we're fired and taps sounded as til
train departed His remains wer
viewed by thousands Of soldiers Sal
urday and Sunday.
Mr. Smith enlisted in the Unite
States army at Kansas City, Mo, la!
spring and was called into service {
Camp Dodge in September. He enlis
ed as a private in Company B. Thrt
Hundred and Thirteenth Field Sign
Corps, and in a short time he We
promoted to corporsl.s Owing to h
popularity with the commanding 0
icer and members of the company ]
had received the position as sergear
He received his papers from Washin
ton while on his death bed Friday. II
promotion in the company was We.
rapid and in time he would have be-
commissioned second lieutenant. II
company will leave for Cuba in she
time to complete its training befo
departing for France.
Sergeant Smith was born In this oi
en- Feb. 6, 1883, and passed with hi
honOrs through the public and hi
schools here and at Notre Dame a
Michigan universities.
After receiving his education he V
employed by several leading newsr
pers in the country in the advertise
department. For q long period he W
connected with the Kansas City st
and later as advertising manager
the Greenville Dry Goods company
Greenville Texas. He was employ
at this position up until the time
was called into service.
Funeral at Sacred Heart.
Sergeant Smith during his sch
days was very popular with his ella
mates and with every one that KIN
him He was e member of the TO
ball team In his first year at h
school and was the captain of
l90S state championship eleven.
1912 the Rock Island Independ
football team was organized and
was made manager.
Besides his parents he is survi
by son, Louis Archer, brother, '
liam A., a sister, Maybelle s.. and
srandfathers. NJ. " Archer and Y
liam A. Smith, all of this city.
4 The body arrived in this city yes
day afternoon accompanied by
parents and Robert Gregg and j
Miller OF Sedalia. Mo-, members of
signal corps. The funeral serv
viii be held at Q o'clock tomor
1 morning at the Sacred Heart chu
III with services to be conducted
III Father c. p. 0'Neill, pastor of
N church. Interment will be in Cal'
cemetery The cortege will be
motor Tho naIlhearers Will