Mon Mar 10, 1884 Rockford Daily Register
A Fatal Fall Mrs.
Mary Allen Falls Headlong down Cellar
Death in Four Hours from Concussion of the Brain
Another case of startlingly sudden death must be chronicled today. The unfortunate lady is Mrs. Mary Allen daughter of Mrs. J.E. Gardner, and residing at 1016 West State Street. Last evening she left her daughter's house and went to the residence of Byron Loveland, on South Court Street, opposite the Commercial Hotel, for a friendly call. She rapped at the door, but owing to the fact that there were some young people upstairs romping and laughing, they did not hear her knock. Being well acquainted, she pushed open the door and walked into the front room. Not finding anyone present, she started for another room, but not being very familiar with the premises, instead of turning to the right, where the dining room door is located, she kept straight on to the door leading to the cellar. This she opened, took one step forward in the dark and fell headlong down ten or twelve stairs.
The inmates heard her footsteps, and ran to the front room just in time to hear her exclaim; "I guess I've gone the wrong way" and then followed the sickening sound of her terrible fall. They ran to the cellar and to the great surprise of all found her lying on the floor conscious and at first no marks could be discovered on her head or face. She was carried upstairs, when it was found that she had struck the side of her head against an upright post, at the bottom of the cellar stairs. There were also other bruises about her back and sides. She remained conscious and conversed cheerfully until her son-in-law, Mr. Gardner, had come for her with a hack and conveyed her home. Indeed, she was able to walk from the house to the hack and no apprehension was felt at first as to serious results. Shortly after reaching home, however medical aid was summoned and later that night she died from concussion of the brain.
Deceased was 54 years of age and Mrs. Gardner was her only daughter. Up to six weeks ago she had been engaged as a nurse in Chicago, and at that time came to Rockford. She has been suffering considerably with rheumatism for some time, and not long ago had an operation performed, and several of her toes were removed. As a result she had not perfect control of her limbs, and it is thought when she opened the cellar door she had not the power to check herself in time, although she knew she was in the wrong place.
She was the wife of Gardner S. Allen who was chief of the fire department here in 1860. His death was a similar one. He was in the army, and was quartermaster of the 74th regiment, Lewis Williams, the brother of John Williams, died from typhoid fever at Edgefield, Tenn., and Mr. Allen was delegated to accompany him home. On the trip there was a railroad accident, and the car was thrown down an embankment fifty feet. Mr. Allen suffered concussion of the brain from this which resulted in death.
Bio provided by FAG contributor JNM.
A Fatal Fall Mrs.
Mary Allen Falls Headlong down Cellar
Death in Four Hours from Concussion of the Brain
Another case of startlingly sudden death must be chronicled today. The unfortunate lady is Mrs. Mary Allen daughter of Mrs. J.E. Gardner, and residing at 1016 West State Street. Last evening she left her daughter's house and went to the residence of Byron Loveland, on South Court Street, opposite the Commercial Hotel, for a friendly call. She rapped at the door, but owing to the fact that there were some young people upstairs romping and laughing, they did not hear her knock. Being well acquainted, she pushed open the door and walked into the front room. Not finding anyone present, she started for another room, but not being very familiar with the premises, instead of turning to the right, where the dining room door is located, she kept straight on to the door leading to the cellar. This she opened, took one step forward in the dark and fell headlong down ten or twelve stairs.
The inmates heard her footsteps, and ran to the front room just in time to hear her exclaim; "I guess I've gone the wrong way" and then followed the sickening sound of her terrible fall. They ran to the cellar and to the great surprise of all found her lying on the floor conscious and at first no marks could be discovered on her head or face. She was carried upstairs, when it was found that she had struck the side of her head against an upright post, at the bottom of the cellar stairs. There were also other bruises about her back and sides. She remained conscious and conversed cheerfully until her son-in-law, Mr. Gardner, had come for her with a hack and conveyed her home. Indeed, she was able to walk from the house to the hack and no apprehension was felt at first as to serious results. Shortly after reaching home, however medical aid was summoned and later that night she died from concussion of the brain.
Deceased was 54 years of age and Mrs. Gardner was her only daughter. Up to six weeks ago she had been engaged as a nurse in Chicago, and at that time came to Rockford. She has been suffering considerably with rheumatism for some time, and not long ago had an operation performed, and several of her toes were removed. As a result she had not perfect control of her limbs, and it is thought when she opened the cellar door she had not the power to check herself in time, although she knew she was in the wrong place.
She was the wife of Gardner S. Allen who was chief of the fire department here in 1860. His death was a similar one. He was in the army, and was quartermaster of the 74th regiment, Lewis Williams, the brother of John Williams, died from typhoid fever at Edgefield, Tenn., and Mr. Allen was delegated to accompany him home. On the trip there was a railroad accident, and the car was thrown down an embankment fifty feet. Mr. Allen suffered concussion of the brain from this which resulted in death.
Bio provided by FAG contributor JNM.
Mon Mar 10, 1884 Rockford Daily Register
A Fatal Fall Mrs.
Mary Allen Falls Headlong down Cellar
Death in Four Hours from Concussion of the Brain
Another case of startlingly sudden death must be chronicled today. The unfortunate lady is Mrs. Mary Allen daughter of Mrs. J.E. Gardner, and residing at 1016 West State Street. Last evening she left her daughter's house and went to the residence of Byron Loveland, on South Court Street, opposite the Commercial Hotel, for a friendly call. She rapped at the door, but owing to the fact that there were some young people upstairs romping and laughing, they did not hear her knock. Being well acquainted, she pushed open the door and walked into the front room. Not finding anyone present, she started for another room, but not being very familiar with the premises, instead of turning to the right, where the dining room door is located, she kept straight on to the door leading to the cellar. This she opened, took one step forward in the dark and fell headlong down ten or twelve stairs.
The inmates heard her footsteps, and ran to the front room just in time to hear her exclaim; "I guess I've gone the wrong way" and then followed the sickening sound of her terrible fall. They ran to the cellar and to the great surprise of all found her lying on the floor conscious and at first no marks could be discovered on her head or face. She was carried upstairs, when it was found that she had struck the side of her head against an upright post, at the bottom of the cellar stairs. There were also other bruises about her back and sides. She remained conscious and conversed cheerfully until her son-in-law, Mr. Gardner, had come for her with a hack and conveyed her home. Indeed, she was able to walk from the house to the hack and no apprehension was felt at first as to serious results. Shortly after reaching home, however medical aid was summoned and later that night she died from concussion of the brain.
Deceased was 54 years of age and Mrs. Gardner was her only daughter. Up to six weeks ago she had been engaged as a nurse in Chicago, and at that time came to Rockford. She has been suffering considerably with rheumatism for some time, and not long ago had an operation performed, and several of her toes were removed. As a result she had not perfect control of her limbs, and it is thought when she opened the cellar door she had not the power to check herself in time, although she knew she was in the wrong place.
She was the wife of Gardner S. Allen who was chief of the fire department here in 1860. His death was a similar one. He was in the army, and was quartermaster of the 74th regiment, Lewis Williams, the brother of John Williams, died from typhoid fever at Edgefield, Tenn., and Mr. Allen was delegated to accompany him home. On the trip there was a railroad accident, and the car was thrown down an embankment fifty feet. Mr. Allen suffered concussion of the brain from this which resulted in death.
Bio provided by FAG contributor JNM.
A Fatal Fall Mrs.
Mary Allen Falls Headlong down Cellar
Death in Four Hours from Concussion of the Brain
Another case of startlingly sudden death must be chronicled today. The unfortunate lady is Mrs. Mary Allen daughter of Mrs. J.E. Gardner, and residing at 1016 West State Street. Last evening she left her daughter's house and went to the residence of Byron Loveland, on South Court Street, opposite the Commercial Hotel, for a friendly call. She rapped at the door, but owing to the fact that there were some young people upstairs romping and laughing, they did not hear her knock. Being well acquainted, she pushed open the door and walked into the front room. Not finding anyone present, she started for another room, but not being very familiar with the premises, instead of turning to the right, where the dining room door is located, she kept straight on to the door leading to the cellar. This she opened, took one step forward in the dark and fell headlong down ten or twelve stairs.
The inmates heard her footsteps, and ran to the front room just in time to hear her exclaim; "I guess I've gone the wrong way" and then followed the sickening sound of her terrible fall. They ran to the cellar and to the great surprise of all found her lying on the floor conscious and at first no marks could be discovered on her head or face. She was carried upstairs, when it was found that she had struck the side of her head against an upright post, at the bottom of the cellar stairs. There were also other bruises about her back and sides. She remained conscious and conversed cheerfully until her son-in-law, Mr. Gardner, had come for her with a hack and conveyed her home. Indeed, she was able to walk from the house to the hack and no apprehension was felt at first as to serious results. Shortly after reaching home, however medical aid was summoned and later that night she died from concussion of the brain.
Deceased was 54 years of age and Mrs. Gardner was her only daughter. Up to six weeks ago she had been engaged as a nurse in Chicago, and at that time came to Rockford. She has been suffering considerably with rheumatism for some time, and not long ago had an operation performed, and several of her toes were removed. As a result she had not perfect control of her limbs, and it is thought when she opened the cellar door she had not the power to check herself in time, although she knew she was in the wrong place.
She was the wife of Gardner S. Allen who was chief of the fire department here in 1860. His death was a similar one. He was in the army, and was quartermaster of the 74th regiment, Lewis Williams, the brother of John Williams, died from typhoid fever at Edgefield, Tenn., and Mr. Allen was delegated to accompany him home. On the trip there was a railroad accident, and the car was thrown down an embankment fifty feet. Mr. Allen suffered concussion of the brain from this which resulted in death.
Bio provided by FAG contributor JNM.
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