 West Hill Cemetery Sherman, Texas
Bonham Daily Favorite November 27, 1908 MISS LOUISE GATES ACCIDENTALLY KILLED Was in Surrey With a Party On Hunting Trip CITY IS GRIEF STRICKEN Started This Morning For the Rudasill Farm With Party of Friends But Never Reached It Sherman, Texas, November 26 - What otherwise promised to be one of the brightest and happiest Thanksgiving days in the history of Sherman was turned into one of sorrow for the entire city by a sad accident which occurred a few moments after 6 o'clock this morning...which one of the city's most lovely ladies lost her life and another was plunged into grief and nervous prostration because of the affair. As a result of the accident Miss Louise Gates, 18 years of age, daughter of A.V. Gates, a well known traveling man of the city, lies dead at her home, No. 522, corner Washington Avenue and Woods street, with a bullet in her forehead just between the eyes, and Miss Gladys Ely, another young lady than whom there is none more popular or beloved, the daughter of Capt. L.F. Ely, of Fairview, lies at the home of her friend in a state of nervous collapse, with physicians and friends doing all in their power to calm her. The story of the terrible accodent is as follows: Miss Ely spent night at the Gates' home, the intention of the young ladies being to this morning at an early hour join a hunting party to go to the Rudasill farm, 4 miles west of Sherman on the Whitesboro road, to spend the forenoon hunting. A few minutes before 7 o'clock the party composed of Lee Davis, Peral Rudasill, Miss Gladys Ely, Miss Louise Gates, Miss Verda Gates, chaperoned by Mrs. Oliver Nelson, sister to Miss Ely, entered a surrey and left the Gates' residence. The 2 young ladies, Miss Gates and Miss Ely, were riding in the same surrey, and after the start was made a small target rifle in the hands of Miss Ely was accidentally discharged, the bullet entering the head of the unfortunate girl. So noiseless was the was the discharge of the cartridge that those in the carriage did not at first realize what had happened until Miss Gates inclined her head to one side and it was noticed that blood was oozing from her forehead. The party at once stopped and drove immediately back to the place of starting. Miss Gates never spoke after the shot was fired, and, although her body was warm when she was taken from the vehicle, Mr. Reeves, a neighbor of the Gates', who had heard their cries and had carried the young girl from the surrey into the house, stated that it could be plainly seen that she was dead. No accident has ever occurred in Sherman which has caused deeper sorrow. Both young ladies are members of 2 of the city's leading families, and were beloved by a large circle of friends for their qualities of heart and mind, and the grief that is caused by the death of Miss Gates is no less genuine for Miss Ely and her family for the said connection she had with the affair. Miss Ely is only 16 years of age. contributed by Suzie Henderson West Hill Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
