The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-20
.bUNYAN KILLED
IS CONFIRMED
OFFICIAL News Reaches His Mother
That He Was Killed in Action
the Last Week in
July.
LEARNED BY RED CROSS
Reports for Some Time Caused Home
Service Department to Have
Paris cabled for
Fasts.

j Confirmation Of reports of the
death in action of Sergeant Charles
o. Bunyan, Keokuk soldier, was
received this morning in a telegram
from the authorities in Washington
/ to his mother, Mrs. Amelia H. Bun
yam, of 916 Johnson street.
! Rumors and reports of his death in
France have been current for a long
time, but no actual information could
be obtained until today. The first
intimation was a letter written him
by L. e. Williams which was returned
to the writer by the postoff1ce de-
partment marked that the addressed
was dead.
| Then Miss Laura Alton, in charge
| of the home service department Of
the Keokuk Red Cross asked national
Red Cross to ascertain the facts.
National headquarters of the Red
Cross cabled to Paris several days
ago, and the confirmation of the
death of Sergeant Bunyan was the
result. His name has not yet ap-
peared in any of the army casualty
lists.
Was an Old National Guardsman.
Sergeant Bunyan joined L. company
of the national guard here several
years ago and belonged to that or
ganization until 1t was absorbed in
the American army for the big war.
He advanced from private to be
first sergeant of the local company
and went with 1t to the Mexican bor-
derer and back. When the company
was modified with the eighty eighth
division at Camp Dodge, he was one
of the men selected for the transfer
to the 168th regiment of the famous
Rainbow division, with which he went
to France. With that regiment he was
in some Of the fiercest fighting OF any
part of the American ar1ny exper-
fenced. Two b;ttalions Of the regt-
ment suffered heavy loss, and the
other had casualties.
Sergeant Bunyan was popular in his
old home company and always was
looked upon as a good soldier from
whom much could he expected. He
proved this by making the supreme
sacrifice in one Of the historical bat
ties OF the world war which will al
ways reflect glory on the American
flag.
Keokuk to Honor Him.
AS soon as he head the official con-
firmation of the death of Sergeant
Bunyan, Mayor Lotion issued proc
'damation providing all flags displayed
in Keokuk to be half masted for three
days and until sunset on next Monday.
1t is believed that this request made
by the mayor Of citizens flying flags
from. their buildings will be univer-
sally complied with.
It is the intention to pay honor to
all Keokuk soldiers who may be
killed in the world war.
Was a Fine Young Man.
Charles Otto Bunyan was fine
Young man highly respected by all
who knew him. He was a timer ana
employed before the war by the
!Seither-Cherry company here.
He was twenty-three years old,
ha wing been born in Keokuk June 10,
1895. He lived here all his life be-
fore going with his company to the
Rio Grande expedition.
He leaves his mother, Mrs. Amelia
Bunyan, his grandmother, Mrs. Doro-
thy Lorenz, and one sister, Mrs. VIII
liam Long. Jr., living on the Johnson
street road. All are bearing up brave
|ly in their grief which is also tinged
with some proper pride that they
have done the utmost for their coun-
try.
Hanging in the window of the home
at GIG johnson street is service nag
with its blue star now turning TO
gold. to represent the first keokuk
soldier killed in action in the world
war.