HOUSE, Austin W.

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A Sad Death.

Our citizens were startled on Monday morning by the announcement that A. W. House, clerk at the Jeff depot, had been found dead in bed at his room at the corner of Jefferson and Water streets. Mr. House had been at his post of duty all day Sunday, leaving the de­pot and going to his room about eight o’clock that evening. He was apparently as well and cheerful as usual on that day, although he had been complaining of a slight indisposition for several weeks.

When Mr. House failed to appear at the depot on Monday morning a mess­enger was sent to his room to learn the reason. A knock at the door failed to bring any answer, and upon trying the door it was found to be locked. Thinking all was not right a ladder was procured and put up to the window and James Utterback mounted it, raised the window and crawled into the room. The object of the search lay upon the bed in the northeast corner of the room, and one glance told Mr. Utterback that life was extinct. Mr. House had pulled his bed over into that corner of the room, so as to get near the window, the night being very hot, and had undressed and put on a loose night robe. The bed clothing was undisturbed, just as though he had expired immediately after lying down. The body was cold and rigid, also showing that he had died in the earlier part of the night. His repose was natural and the expression of the fea­tures would indicate that his death was sudden and painless.

Coroner Jones was summoned and viewed the remains and ordered a post mortem examination, which was held on Tuesday morning by Drs. Donnell, Way and Province. The examination disclosed the fact that deceased came to his death by reason of the rupture of the right auricle of the heart, and such is the coroner’s verdict in the case.

Deceased came to this city some twelve years ago from London, Shelby county, first taking a position in the grocery of H. C. Strickler. He afterwards was elected city clerk, an office he filled very satisfactorily to all. After his term expired he took a posi­tion at the J. M. & I. depot, which place he still held at the time of his death.

He was a man deservedly popular, being sober, industrious and of a kind and genial disposition. His wife died in this city some ten years ago, leaving a family of five children, all of whom survive the father also. There are two daughters now with their grandmother in Ohio, Brom, telegraph operator at the depot where his father was employed, Leslie, telegraph operator at Scottsburg, and Dale, messenger for the Western Union.

The funeral was held at the M. E. church of which deceased was a mem­ber, Tuesday afternoon at four o’clock, services being conducted by Rev. Thos. G. Cocks, assisted by Revs. Marshall and Knowlton. Burial at Greenlawn under the auspices of the I. O. O. F.

Link to Austin W. House’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry