Met Death at St. Mary’s Church
Mary, the thirteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Botz Jr., who reside near Foxholm, met death in a horrible manner last Thursday afternoon between the hours of four and five, at the St. Mary’s Catholic church, which is but a few steps from the Botz home. The little girl in trying to crawl from one of the church windows, became caught by a falling window and death occurred soon afterwards. The death of the girl was the saddest, perhaps that has ever been recorded by the Independent.
Father Berg of the St. Mary’s church has been holding Early Mass at the church for some time and held Mass there as usual Thursday morning. The church is an old structure and the front doors were closed with considerable difficulty. The wind had blown the doors open and the mother noticing them ajar, sent little Mary over to the church to close them. The girl said, “Mamma, I’ll close them so that they will not come open. I will lock the doors from the inside and crawl out of the window.” This was the last thing that she ever told her mother and she departed for the church, locked the doors securely from the inside and went to one of the windows opening it.
The mother waited nearly an hour for Mary to return. A storm was coming up and she sent the little five year old daughter over towards the church to call Mary home. The little tot returned and told her mother that Mary was not to be seen. Mrs. Botz herself walked over to the church, and tried to open the doors, but they were securely fastened. She walked around the corner of the building, and there hung the lifeless form of her little girl. The feet were a foot and a half from the ground and the head was securely pinned down by the heavy window. The hands were still clutching the window sill on the inner side and her breast hung heavily against the edge of the window on the outside. The window caught the little girl’s head on the cheek and back. There were evidences of a terrible struggle for the poor girl’s lip was torn and marks could be seen against the side of the church where she endeavored to free herself. It was impossible to get away from the terrible torture for the harder she struggled the trap and it is believed that she became unconscious in a minute or less.
When the mother freed the daughter, life was probably extinct, tho there were faint evidences of a movement of the pulse. Everything that could be done to revive the unfortunate girl was done, but to no avail. The remains were taken to the home and doctors sent for, they pronouncing her beyond help.
The funeral was held from the church Sunday afternoon, Father Berg having charge of the services. The funeral was under the direction of Undertaker Rowan of this city. Fully six hundred people attended the beautiful services. The floral gifts were profuse and there were some elegant pieces. Six little friends of the deceased, Misses Clouse, Schneider, Hoff, Brennan, Goble and Gruber acted as pall bearers, while another companion carried a beautiful cross of flowers. All of the girls were dressed in white.
Mary Botz, the oldest of a family of six, three sons and three daughters, was born at Larimore thirteen years ago last December. She accompanied her parents to Ward county when quite young, living five miles north of this city until three or four years ago, when her parents moved to Foxholm. Mary was a dutiful child, being a regular little mother to the younger members of the family. She was a very bright little girl, being confirmed at the age of eleven. She was especially proficient in music, possessing a magnificent piano which her parents bought her two years ago. Mary was popular with a large number of her acquaintances and will be missed everywhere in the Foxholm country.
This is a terrible blow to the parents, who were looking to a bright future for the girl who was just budding into womanhood, but they are consoled in the thought that his is an act of one who doeth all things well.
The Independent extends its heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowing relatives.
The Ward County Independent, Thursday, June 11, 1908, Page 1.
Contributed by Brian Backes, #47148484
Mary, the thirteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Botz Jr., who reside near Foxholm, met death in a horrible manner last Thursday afternoon between the hours of four and five, at the St. Mary’s Catholic church, which is but a few steps from the Botz home. The little girl in trying to crawl from one of the church windows, became caught by a falling window and death occurred soon afterwards. The death of the girl was the saddest, perhaps that has ever been recorded by the Independent.
Father Berg of the St. Mary’s church has been holding Early Mass at the church for some time and held Mass there as usual Thursday morning. The church is an old structure and the front doors were closed with considerable difficulty. The wind had blown the doors open and the mother noticing them ajar, sent little Mary over to the church to close them. The girl said, “Mamma, I’ll close them so that they will not come open. I will lock the doors from the inside and crawl out of the window.” This was the last thing that she ever told her mother and she departed for the church, locked the doors securely from the inside and went to one of the windows opening it.
The mother waited nearly an hour for Mary to return. A storm was coming up and she sent the little five year old daughter over towards the church to call Mary home. The little tot returned and told her mother that Mary was not to be seen. Mrs. Botz herself walked over to the church, and tried to open the doors, but they were securely fastened. She walked around the corner of the building, and there hung the lifeless form of her little girl. The feet were a foot and a half from the ground and the head was securely pinned down by the heavy window. The hands were still clutching the window sill on the inner side and her breast hung heavily against the edge of the window on the outside. The window caught the little girl’s head on the cheek and back. There were evidences of a terrible struggle for the poor girl’s lip was torn and marks could be seen against the side of the church where she endeavored to free herself. It was impossible to get away from the terrible torture for the harder she struggled the trap and it is believed that she became unconscious in a minute or less.
When the mother freed the daughter, life was probably extinct, tho there were faint evidences of a movement of the pulse. Everything that could be done to revive the unfortunate girl was done, but to no avail. The remains were taken to the home and doctors sent for, they pronouncing her beyond help.
The funeral was held from the church Sunday afternoon, Father Berg having charge of the services. The funeral was under the direction of Undertaker Rowan of this city. Fully six hundred people attended the beautiful services. The floral gifts were profuse and there were some elegant pieces. Six little friends of the deceased, Misses Clouse, Schneider, Hoff, Brennan, Goble and Gruber acted as pall bearers, while another companion carried a beautiful cross of flowers. All of the girls were dressed in white.
Mary Botz, the oldest of a family of six, three sons and three daughters, was born at Larimore thirteen years ago last December. She accompanied her parents to Ward county when quite young, living five miles north of this city until three or four years ago, when her parents moved to Foxholm. Mary was a dutiful child, being a regular little mother to the younger members of the family. She was a very bright little girl, being confirmed at the age of eleven. She was especially proficient in music, possessing a magnificent piano which her parents bought her two years ago. Mary was popular with a large number of her acquaintances and will be missed everywhere in the Foxholm country.
This is a terrible blow to the parents, who were looking to a bright future for the girl who was just budding into womanhood, but they are consoled in the thought that his is an act of one who doeth all things well.
The Independent extends its heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowing relatives.
The Ward County Independent, Thursday, June 11, 1908, Page 1.
Contributed by Brian Backes, #47148484
Met Death at St. Mary’s Church
Mary, the thirteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Botz Jr., who reside near Foxholm, met death in a horrible manner last Thursday afternoon between the hours of four and five, at the St. Mary’s Catholic church, which is but a few steps from the Botz home. The little girl in trying to crawl from one of the church windows, became caught by a falling window and death occurred soon afterwards. The death of the girl was the saddest, perhaps that has ever been recorded by the Independent.
Father Berg of the St. Mary’s church has been holding Early Mass at the church for some time and held Mass there as usual Thursday morning. The church is an old structure and the front doors were closed with considerable difficulty. The wind had blown the doors open and the mother noticing them ajar, sent little Mary over to the church to close them. The girl said, “Mamma, I’ll close them so that they will not come open. I will lock the doors from the inside and crawl out of the window.” This was the last thing that she ever told her mother and she departed for the church, locked the doors securely from the inside and went to one of the windows opening it.
The mother waited nearly an hour for Mary to return. A storm was coming up and she sent the little five year old daughter over towards the church to call Mary home. The little tot returned and told her mother that Mary was not to be seen. Mrs. Botz herself walked over to the church, and tried to open the doors, but they were securely fastened. She walked around the corner of the building, and there hung the lifeless form of her little girl. The feet were a foot and a half from the ground and the head was securely pinned down by the heavy window. The hands were still clutching the window sill on the inner side and her breast hung heavily against the edge of the window on the outside. The window caught the little girl’s head on the cheek and back. There were evidences of a terrible struggle for the poor girl’s lip was torn and marks could be seen against the side of the church where she endeavored to free herself. It was impossible to get away from the terrible torture for the harder she struggled the trap and it is believed that she became unconscious in a minute or less.
When the mother freed the daughter, life was probably extinct, tho there were faint evidences of a movement of the pulse. Everything that could be done to revive the unfortunate girl was done, but to no avail. The remains were taken to the home and doctors sent for, they pronouncing her beyond help.
The funeral was held from the church Sunday afternoon, Father Berg having charge of the services. The funeral was under the direction of Undertaker Rowan of this city. Fully six hundred people attended the beautiful services. The floral gifts were profuse and there were some elegant pieces. Six little friends of the deceased, Misses Clouse, Schneider, Hoff, Brennan, Goble and Gruber acted as pall bearers, while another companion carried a beautiful cross of flowers. All of the girls were dressed in white.
Mary Botz, the oldest of a family of six, three sons and three daughters, was born at Larimore thirteen years ago last December. She accompanied her parents to Ward county when quite young, living five miles north of this city until three or four years ago, when her parents moved to Foxholm. Mary was a dutiful child, being a regular little mother to the younger members of the family. She was a very bright little girl, being confirmed at the age of eleven. She was especially proficient in music, possessing a magnificent piano which her parents bought her two years ago. Mary was popular with a large number of her acquaintances and will be missed everywhere in the Foxholm country.
This is a terrible blow to the parents, who were looking to a bright future for the girl who was just budding into womanhood, but they are consoled in the thought that his is an act of one who doeth all things well.
The Independent extends its heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowing relatives.
The Ward County Independent, Thursday, June 11, 1908, Page 1.
Contributed by Brian Backes, #47148484
Mary, the thirteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Botz Jr., who reside near Foxholm, met death in a horrible manner last Thursday afternoon between the hours of four and five, at the St. Mary’s Catholic church, which is but a few steps from the Botz home. The little girl in trying to crawl from one of the church windows, became caught by a falling window and death occurred soon afterwards. The death of the girl was the saddest, perhaps that has ever been recorded by the Independent.
Father Berg of the St. Mary’s church has been holding Early Mass at the church for some time and held Mass there as usual Thursday morning. The church is an old structure and the front doors were closed with considerable difficulty. The wind had blown the doors open and the mother noticing them ajar, sent little Mary over to the church to close them. The girl said, “Mamma, I’ll close them so that they will not come open. I will lock the doors from the inside and crawl out of the window.” This was the last thing that she ever told her mother and she departed for the church, locked the doors securely from the inside and went to one of the windows opening it.
The mother waited nearly an hour for Mary to return. A storm was coming up and she sent the little five year old daughter over towards the church to call Mary home. The little tot returned and told her mother that Mary was not to be seen. Mrs. Botz herself walked over to the church, and tried to open the doors, but they were securely fastened. She walked around the corner of the building, and there hung the lifeless form of her little girl. The feet were a foot and a half from the ground and the head was securely pinned down by the heavy window. The hands were still clutching the window sill on the inner side and her breast hung heavily against the edge of the window on the outside. The window caught the little girl’s head on the cheek and back. There were evidences of a terrible struggle for the poor girl’s lip was torn and marks could be seen against the side of the church where she endeavored to free herself. It was impossible to get away from the terrible torture for the harder she struggled the trap and it is believed that she became unconscious in a minute or less.
When the mother freed the daughter, life was probably extinct, tho there were faint evidences of a movement of the pulse. Everything that could be done to revive the unfortunate girl was done, but to no avail. The remains were taken to the home and doctors sent for, they pronouncing her beyond help.
The funeral was held from the church Sunday afternoon, Father Berg having charge of the services. The funeral was under the direction of Undertaker Rowan of this city. Fully six hundred people attended the beautiful services. The floral gifts were profuse and there were some elegant pieces. Six little friends of the deceased, Misses Clouse, Schneider, Hoff, Brennan, Goble and Gruber acted as pall bearers, while another companion carried a beautiful cross of flowers. All of the girls were dressed in white.
Mary Botz, the oldest of a family of six, three sons and three daughters, was born at Larimore thirteen years ago last December. She accompanied her parents to Ward county when quite young, living five miles north of this city until three or four years ago, when her parents moved to Foxholm. Mary was a dutiful child, being a regular little mother to the younger members of the family. She was a very bright little girl, being confirmed at the age of eleven. She was especially proficient in music, possessing a magnificent piano which her parents bought her two years ago. Mary was popular with a large number of her acquaintances and will be missed everywhere in the Foxholm country.
This is a terrible blow to the parents, who were looking to a bright future for the girl who was just budding into womanhood, but they are consoled in the thought that his is an act of one who doeth all things well.
The Independent extends its heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowing relatives.
The Ward County Independent, Thursday, June 11, 1908, Page 1.
Contributed by Brian Backes, #47148484
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