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Alvaro Bushman (Obituary}
(1900-1914)
The Lehi Banner
2 May 1914
Fatal Accident on Interurban
Fourteen-Year-Old Boy Killed
Under Wheels of Heavily Loaded Car Returning With Conference Visitors
Alvaro Bushman, the 14-year-old son of Mr. And Mrs. Theodore M. Bushman was run
over and almost instantly killed by an interurban car at 9:30 Sunday evening.
The
accident took place two and one half blocks east of the interurban depot,
between Dr. Hasler�s and Bishop Gardner�s homes. The wheels of the heavily
loaded car had passed over his body, almost completely severing it at the
waist. There was also a gash over the left eye, though this wound would not
have been fatal. Dr. Hassler and John Comer were on the scene within a minute
after the accident and turned the young man over just as he gasped his last
breath but death was almost instant. Others soon gathered and by the striking
of a match some of his classmates recognized the features. Bishop Gardner
notified his father, who came soon in an automobile. Bishop Lewis was notified
and the body was taken to his undertaking establishment, and during the night
was prepared by him for burial.
No
one on car knew that the accident had happened. There were four boys, George
Gaisford, Cedric Dorton, Lorenzo Kirton, Odell Brown and young Bushman, who had
been riding back and forth to American Fork during the afternoon and evening on
the special car which was hauling conference visitors. As the car this time was
making its last trip, they planned only to ride a block or two and then jumb
off. The car was crowded with passengers returning after the evening session.
The
Kirton and Gaisford lads were on the rear steps, Brown and Dorton were on the
baggage steps and Bushman was on the front. The first four had had more
experience in jumping off trains than their companion, so that when the car was
getting good speed they jumped and called to Bushman to do likewise. He,
however, rode several rods further. At this point it is steep and down hill and
the car was getting momentum every rod, so that when he jumped evidently he
became frightened and slipped under the whels [sic].
Soon
as the four boys saw what had happened they were brave enough and had presence
of mind to run fast as they could for medical help, two going for Dr. Hassler,
and two for Dr. Holbrook.
There
was no formal inquest held, the county attorney and sheriff deeming it
unnecessary. However, an informal examination of the boys was held before Judge
Beck and the railroad�s attorney, which brought out the facts as above stated.
According to the boy�s parents he would have been 14 years old on the seventh of
the next month. He was in the sixth grade in the public school. He was a
dutiful son and never gave his parents any trouble, so the untimely and tragic
death has been a great shock to them, the mother particularly having been almost
insane with grief.
Funeral services over the remains were held in the Tabernacle Tuesday
afternoon. The building was filled with sympathizing friends, the teachers and
students of the grammar grades attending in a body. The floral tributes were
beautiful.
Bishop James H. Gardner presided. The other speakers were Supervisor A. B.
Anderson, President A. J. Evans, Counsellor William Wing and Trustee George A.
Goates. Jesse Smith conducted the singing and Mrs. Hazel Holmstead gave a
solo. Six students from his class in the sixth grade acted as pall-bearers.
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