Andrew Clinton Dickey

Ottumwa, May 9th, Yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock while a gang of men were at work grading a lot for Chas. Norton between Fifth and Sixth street near the O.D Wray residence, a bank of earth caved in and three men were caught beneath its weight. They were Andrew Dickey, Charley Van Neas and C.E Penuberton. Dickey was killed and the others painfully, if not seriously injured. The place where the men were working was in a narrow alley in the rear of Norton's lot. The alley had been cut down to grade and the lot was being cut down to conform. The rear end of the lot was 13 0r 14 feet above grade. Wagons were driven through the alley and the dirt which was loosened from the bank was shoveled into them by the workmen. The space between the wagon and the perpendicular bank was not more than 3 or 4 feet, and it was here where Dickey and his companions were at work. All at once and without warning a section of this huge bank 3 or 4 feet in thickness broke away and swayed towards the wagon. The workmen could not escape, and were caught before they realized what was taking place. Andrew Dickey, the most unfortunate of the trio was struck on the head and shoulders by the mass and was quickly forced forward and down under this immense weight. In his fall his head came in contact with the hub of the wagon which was being loaded. The result was indeed horrible. The four of the five men who were working on the job quickly went to work and uncovered their companions, when it was found that Dickey was dead. His skull was laid open from just above the eyes to the rear part of his head. Blood and brains were oozing out and the sight is one which will never be forgotten by those who had witnessed it. The features were not in the least recognizable. The remains were taken to the undertaking establishment of John W McIntyre, where they were prepared for burial. The skill of T.C. Sullivan the managing undertaker, after several hours of work, had the face arranged so it was in a degree that of Andrew Dickey. Deceased was born September 25th, 1860., in Knox County, IL. In 1872 the family moved to near Hayesville, Keokuk County, this state, where several years ago Andrew was married. Last September he and his family of wife and two sweet little girls moved to this city., where they have since resided. The place of residence was near the corner of Second and Grave streets in the west part of the city. Deceased has worked at the Adams&Blakely mine, and also for the Construction Co. he had been working for his present employer, Ed Gunder, only for a short time.

G.W. Dickey, father of the deceased, whose home is three miles south of Hayesville, was notified immediately after the accident and left for once for the city. He was first allowed to view the body of his son this morning as it lay on the table at the undertaker's. A Republican reporter was present and was a witness to the heart broken father's intense grief. Tears trickled down the furrowed cheeks and the aged form fairly shook with throbs of sorrow. It was indeed sad to contemplate his having parted with his son only a short time ago, the latter a perfect picture of health and manhood, and then to observer him cold in death, so cruelly mangled and disfigured. The wife is beside herself with grief and cannot be consoled. The affair was so sudden that she has not had time to reason over it. The remains will be taken to Delta at6:10 this evening via the Milwaukee. At 10 tomorrow the funeral will take place at Bethel church near Delta. It will be conducted by the I.O.O.P lodge of that place of which organization the deceased was a member in good standing.