The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-04-25
SAUK CENTRE SOL.
. der BOY MAKES
SUPREMESACRIFICE
CASS WILCOX BURIED WITH
FULL MILITARY HONORS ON
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
Died In AN Ohio HOSPITAL
FUNERAL LARGEST EVER HELD
IN TY-PNEUMONIA CAUSE
OF DEATH.


tragedy last Friday morning as the
news of the death of Private Cass Will
cox, son of Mr.. and Mrs. C. D. Will
cox, of Mccormick Lake, flashed about
the city and surrounding territory.
Private Wilcox was at Lima, Ohio, at
the time of his death, which was the
direct result of pneumonia aggravated
by complications. His parents and
fancee, Miss Esther Sandell of Min
neapolis were with him. The rema rs
were brought to Sank Centre Sat
urday night and the funeral, the most
largely attended ever known in the
city, took place Tuesday afternoon at
2:30 from the Junior auditorium of
the public schools. All the business
houses were closed for two hours out
of respect for the departed soldier.
Cass ]. Wilcox was born January
9, 1896, at the Mccormick Lake farm
home. He was the fourth child and
the third son. Until 1914, his life
was spent here, after which he lived
two years with his sister, Miss Neva,
in North Dakota. Then he went to
Minneapolis and entered the employ
of the North Western Welding Plant.
On June 6, 1917, he enlisted at Min
neapolis with the motor supply corps
and reported for duty at Chicago on
Dec. Is. He was sent to Camp Joseph
E. Johnston, Jacksonville, Florida, and
remained there until March IS when
he was ordered to Detroit, Mich, with
the 9Th Divisional Motor Supply
Train. With a detachment he was one
of the drivers of a 80 truck transport
convoy which he drove to Baltimore
shortly after. On this trip he caught
a severe cold which with the strain of
the long journey greatly impaired his
physical condition. The men were
sent back to Lima, Ohio, to get more
trucks and it was there that pneu-
monia set in. He was taken i'll on
Saturday morning April IS, and
sent to the Lima hospital. By Mon
day his condition was so serious that
the physicians in charge considered it
necessary to wire the parents. They
left on the noon train and reached
Lima Tuesday night, accompanied by
Miss Sandell, who joined them at Min
neapolis. Miss Neva Wilcox, who was
teaching at Berg, N. D., was also wir-
ed but for some reason did not receive
the telegram until too late. On the
arrival of the party at the hospital
the patient was much better and every
hope for his recovery was held out.
Then an infection that has been af-
fiicting pneumonia patients of late,
set in and his condition changed for.
the worse the next morning. For the
most part he was rational and recog-
nized those who were with him. He
died Thursday night, April f8, at 7:30
After short military service at the
undertaking rooms in Lima, the re-
mains were brought to Sank Centre.
Owing to the immense number who
would wish to be present to pay honor
to the first Sank Centre man to give
his life for his nation, it was thought
wisest to conduct the services at the
auditorium which holds over 1000 peo-
pie. The place was filled to the doors.
All flags were furled and draped with
black. The platform was banked with
flowers, among which was an especial
ly beautiful set piece, a flag, which
was presented by the former en-
ployees of the deceased in Minneapo-.
lis
Capt. Parker of the Home Guards
met the casket at the hearse and pre-
coded it into the auditorium. He was
joined at the door oy Rev. Boone. The
casket was born by,six of the Guards,
all personal friends of Private Wilcox.
They were Percy Hansen, John Han
sen, Michael Millner, Harold Bishop,
Robert Elliott and August Dahlem.
The relatives following completed the
order of the procession. The casket
was draped according to military
custom with a silk American flag.
The quartette consisting of Mrs.
Boone, Mrs. Farrand, DIR. Farrand and
Harold Bishop sang "Safe in the