Richard Septimus Andrew

HISTORY:

Richard Septimus Whitaker Andrews son of Frederick Chadwick Andrew and Elizabeth Whitaker, was born 2 November 1858 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

While still a mere lad, he worked for the Herald as an apprentice and later as journeyman where he gained the respect and friendship of all of the members of the Herald force. Richard, or Doc as he was called, was a quiet, modest, and unassuming, commanding the admiration of persons much older than himself. They all remembered the time when he severed his connection with the Herald and turned to Battle Mountain, Nevada where he engaged in the printing business but soon returned to work again as a printer for the Herald.

On 12 May 1881, he married Elizabeth Orgill Croxall in the Endowment House by Daniel H. Wells. To this union came a son, Richard born 11 July 1883.

On account of failing health, he left the newspaper and took to driving a street car. These cars were drawn by mules or horses. The line ran from Second West and Fifth South to a place called Fullers Hi1l. Whenever the car got to Second West and Fifth South,

he used to run up to his home, just a little over a block away, to see his wife and baby. After a time, he seemed to feel that his health was improved and that he could now go back to his printing work.

At the young age of him was recorded in 24 years, the following information concerning the Salt Lake Herald, Sunday, 29 July 1883:

A terrible accident occurred in Godbe, Pitts & Co.'s Drug Store about 3 o'clock on Saturday' afternoon, by which Richard S.W. Andrew - familiarly known as Doc - lost his life. Andrew has been a street car driver for some time, and in company with another driver had gone into the drug store above named to take a drink of soda water. In the northwest corner of the building, and perhaps eight or ten feet from the soda fountain, is a small board enclosure, which is utilized by Mr. Ichel Watters as a pawnbroker's shop.

Mr. Watters had had a pistol fixed by Joseph Barker in the morning, which he had placed away; but having to obtain some articles found it necessary to move the pistol with others, and forgot to return it. This was about fifteen minutes before Mr. Andrew entered the drug store, and as he came in, Mr. Watters noticed the pistol lying upon the safe, and picked it up. It occurred to him that he would see if Mr. Barker had fixed it properly. He held it in his left hand, the barrel pointing east and a trifle south, and the open door of his apartment gave the pistol a clear range in the direction of the soda fountain.

As Mr. Andrew raised the glass of soda water to his lips, Watters pulled the trigger of the pistol. The weapon discharged, and Mr. Andrew groaned and fell to the floor, the blood flowing copiously from a wound in the back of the neck, a little behind and below the left ear. Mr. Watters stepped out of his apartment and said, "My God, - what have I done?" It was learned that instead of taking the pistol which Barker had fixed, and which he knew to be unloaded, he had picked up another, similar in every respect, but loaded. Mr. Watters immediately surrendered himself to the police.

Andrew never spoke a word. He fell, and before he struck the floor, was dead. Dr. Pike says the unfortunate young man never knew what hit him. The ball passed through the upper spinal cords and lodged behind the right ear, his death being the most sudden possible. He was laid out and the drug store closed, and the body was finally removed to his home.

The funeral services this afternoon from over his remains will be held at 4 o'clock the Seventh Ward School House. Funeral services were held in the Seventh Ward Meeting House. Bishop William Thorn conducted the service and gave the opening prayer. Speakers were President John Taylor and President Woodruff.

Bishop Thorn gave a few closing remarks. The benediction was pronounced by Elder William McLachlan. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Elder Joseph E. Taylor.

Long before the hour announced for the holding of the services, the large hall was filled to overflowing, and as time proceeded, not only was all the available space in the interior occupied, but a large crowd were on the outside of the building. Mr. Watters, the unwitting cause of the sad circumstance, and his wife were present, and appeared deeply affected, the latter weeping during most of the services.

After the services were over, the coffin was taken outside and placed under the shade of some trees, the large audience passing the casket on each side of it and viewing the face of the dead. The remains were followed to the cemetery by a large cortège.

Some years ago when John Q. Cannon, was Editor of the "Desert News" a book of poems came to the News and the poems were written by a lady named Mrs. Louise Coulson. Well, here is the strange thing about this book. When Brother Cannon was perusing this book, he came across a poem entitled, "Accidental Death of Andrews".

@ (In Salt Lake City, Utah; 1884). This should be 1883:

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF ANDREWS

(In Salt Lake City, Ptah -- 1884)

We saw him in all of life's bright morning,

Just as the roseate glow of manhoods pride

Had crowned him father, husband, son

His cup of mortal bliss, his home allied.

0h, the fatal misspent bullet that so soon

Should pierce the hearts so frail, not over strong

Turn all their morning into noon

Of life's fair day of love and song.

The lips be kissed goodbye are ashen pale

The babe whose fluttering breath was sweet perfume,

The aged Mother whose grief moans out a wail

Of deepest anguish, is wrapped in gloom.

The wife who so late a bride in white

Crowned all his life with noblest Womanhood.

Alas, her days are turned to darkest night

With orphaned babe and lonely widowhood.

Words appear as naught to appease the heart

So bereft all that makes life dear

To see his face so full of love to part

In one short hour to gaze upon his bier.

May He who stilled the waves Galilee

Bid peace to her whose soul storm-tossed

With grief, through faith to see

That only she loved is only gone before, not lost.

And, in that glorious resurrection morn;

When all beneath the earth and sea awake from sleep;

Their image perfect in immortality born,

Where there there will be no sorrow, no cause to weep.

 Mrs. Louise Coulson

SOURCE: Ancestors and Descendants of Frederick Chadwick Andrew. Pages 189-190.