The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1920-09-30
DEATH
OF IVAN HANDY

Son Of Mr.. and Mrs. e. F. Handy
Loses Life When Shotgun is
Discharged
ENTIRE FAMILY HEARTBROKEN
No One Else in House When Accident
Occurred
The people of Oakes and vicinity
were Mortified last Saturday afternoon
when it became known that Ivan Ham
dy, fourth son Of Mr. and Mrs. E. F.
Handy, had met death as the result Of
an accident with shotgun.
The youngster was alone in the
house at the time of the tragedy,
which happened some time between
four and five o'clock, so just how it
occurred is a matter of conjecture. Mr..
Handy left home about four o'clock, at
which time both Ivan and Oliver were
there. Before leaving, he instructed
Oliver to finish shocking some corn
in the field nearby, and saw him start
out to obey, leaving Ivan alone The
boys had asked their mother earlier
whether they might take the gun and
shoot some blackbirds, which are very
plentiful just now, but she withheld
her permission as she said it would
interfere with their work. 1t is sup
posed that Ivan, when he went into
the house, loaded the shotgun and
leaned it against a clothes basket in
the bedroom, while he rummaged
through some drawers in search Of
cartridges for rifle. Not finding any,
it is thought he picked up the gun by
the muzzle and drew it toward ..i:;.
preparatory to going out of doors. In
some manner the hammer must have
caught on the edge of the basket, as
the gun was discharged, the contents
striking the ill-fated boy just below
the collarbone. That he did not be-
come unconscious Immediately is
shown by the fact THAI he walked out
Of the bedroom, through the front
room, then through another room.
where he dropped the shotgun, and
managed to reach the kitchen before
his fast failing strength gave out and
he sank to the floor. He evidently in
tended to reach the telephone, which
is located in the kitchen, and summon
help.
He was found about five o'clock by
Oliver, who returned to the house in
order to get Ivan to assist him in get
ting one of the horses into the barn.
Seeing his brother lying upon the floor
weltering in his own blood, the young
man was terrified and hastened at
once to the Gustafson home, where he
told them what had happened and
asked them to come along with him
Immediately. Mrs. Bowman happen
ed to be at Gustafson's, and the two
women folks hurried to the scene Of
the tragedy and telephoned for Mr..
and Mrs. Handy and the boys.
Drs. Maercklein and Dedof were
hurriedly called, but the boy had been
dead when found by Oliver.
Homer Ivan Handy, fourth son of
Mr.. and Mrs. E. F. Handy, was born
in Oakes March 18, 1908, and at the
time of his death was IL years, 8
months and days of age. He was a
member of the Cradle Roll of the
Methodist church and belonged to the
Sunday school, being regular attend
ant. He was one of the brightest stu
dents of the seventh grade at school,
and his parents had hopes for a splen-
did future. He planned to become a
cartoonist and, considering his age.
had considerable talent in that line.
which no doubt could have been de-
veloped easily. Ofttimes he could be
observed watching the other children
at play, taking no part himself, and
later would draw sketches of the scene
he had just witnessed.
The unfortunate lad leaves his faith
er and mother, four brothers and one
sister to mourn his untimely death.
Funeral services were conducted
from the residence Monday afternoon
at 200 o'clock, in charge of Rev. ], N.
Strain Of Marshall, Mimi, who deliv-
cred a most touching tribute to the
memory of the deceased, and uttered
many words of comfort to the grief
stricken family.
The seventh grade was dismissed
from school in order that they might
attend the funeral of their classmate
in body. Floral offerings were pro-
fuse and beautiful, and gave outward
evidence of the love for Ivan in the
hearts Of his little friends.
The remains were accompanied to
their last resting place by the entire
class, whose members participated in
the services at the cemetery.
Ivan is gone, called to the great be-
yond by the will Of an all-wise, all
powerful Deity, whose judgment one
may not question. Although members
of the family are grief-stricken as a
result of the terrible accident, may
they find comfort in the promise Of
the Master that the end Of this life
is but the beginning Of life eternal.