Whitefish Pilot, Thursday, September 2, 1909
page 1 col 5
SHOCKING ACCIDENT
Vernon Larter Received Injuries That
Caused His Death Shortly Afterwards
Last Friday afternoon, shortly before five o'clock, the whole community was startled to hear the shocking news that Vernon Larter, the only son of R. W. Larter, the well-known locomotive engineer, had been accidently killed.
Vernon was assisting his father in making some repairs on a motor boat in Sprague and Tenner's boat house, in the river at the head of Central Avenue. They had just completed the repairs when Vernon jumped into Sprague's boat that was moored right along side to test the motor. It happened that the crank for starting the engine was hanging on the shaft, and as soon as he put the electric switch on, it exploded it's charge of gas in the motor that had been standing 30 hours. This is something unusual and was not expected because there are very few motors that will hold their compression for that length of time. As soon as the explosion occurred it started the motor running backwards at a thousand revolutions per minute, and the great centrifical force threw the crank off, striking Vernon on the left side of the face and over the eye. It then bounded over and struck Mr Larter in the side with such force as to fracture a rib and daze him.
It did not render Vernon unconscious. He stopped the motor and helped his father up, and extinguished a torch which was setting fire to the boat.
When his father recovered and realized what had happened they hurried to the office of Dr. Houston, where the doctor purposed they go to the hospital where there are better facilities. Vernon walked all the way and was conscious all the while and talked of the accident saying that he wanted it to be kept from his mother until the doctor has fixed him up.
When they arrived at the hospital he got upon the operating table himself and assisted in getting ready to administer the anesthesia, but before the chloroform could be given to him, he expired.
Upon examination it was found that the blow had fractured the base of the skull, causing internal bleeding to the brain, which was the cause of death.
Vernon was born in Kalispell in January 1896, and was 13 years, 7 months, and 26 days old at the time of his death. His home was there until the family came to Whitefish when the railroad division was moved here. He was a bright, manly boy, the pride of his parents and beloved by all his associates.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C.N. Platt at the home Sunday afternoon, and a special train provided by Superintendent W. R. Smith carried the mourners to Kalispell, where services were held in the Presbyterian Church by Rev Fisher. The church was filled with Whitefish and Kalispell friends and there was a great profusion of floral gifts.
Interment was made in Conrad Memorial cemetery. To the stricken father and mother, the hearts of the people of Whitefish and Kalsipell go out in deepest sympathy in these hours, when their hopes are crushed and life looks so desolate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
page 1 col 5
SHOCKING ACCIDENT
Vernon Larter Received Injuries That
Caused His Death Shortly Afterwards
Last Friday afternoon, shortly before five o'clock, the whole community was startled to hear the shocking news that Vernon Larter, the only son of R. W. Larter, the well-known locomotive engineer, had been accidently killed.
Vernon was assisting his father in making some repairs on a motor boat in Sprague and Tenner's boat house, in the river at the head of Central Avenue. They had just completed the repairs when Vernon jumped into Sprague's boat that was moored right along side to test the motor. It happened that the crank for starting the engine was hanging on the shaft, and as soon as he put the electric switch on, it exploded it's charge of gas in the motor that had been standing 30 hours. This is something unusual and was not expected because there are very few motors that will hold their compression for that length of time. As soon as the explosion occurred it started the motor running backwards at a thousand revolutions per minute, and the great centrifical force threw the crank off, striking Vernon on the left side of the face and over the eye. It then bounded over and struck Mr Larter in the side with such force as to fracture a rib and daze him.
It did not render Vernon unconscious. He stopped the motor and helped his father up, and extinguished a torch which was setting fire to the boat.
When his father recovered and realized what had happened they hurried to the office of Dr. Houston, where the doctor purposed they go to the hospital where there are better facilities. Vernon walked all the way and was conscious all the while and talked of the accident saying that he wanted it to be kept from his mother until the doctor has fixed him up.
When they arrived at the hospital he got upon the operating table himself and assisted in getting ready to administer the anesthesia, but before the chloroform could be given to him, he expired.
Upon examination it was found that the blow had fractured the base of the skull, causing internal bleeding to the brain, which was the cause of death.
Vernon was born in Kalispell in January 1896, and was 13 years, 7 months, and 26 days old at the time of his death. His home was there until the family came to Whitefish when the railroad division was moved here. He was a bright, manly boy, the pride of his parents and beloved by all his associates.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C.N. Platt at the home Sunday afternoon, and a special train provided by Superintendent W. R. Smith carried the mourners to Kalispell, where services were held in the Presbyterian Church by Rev Fisher. The church was filled with Whitefish and Kalispell friends and there was a great profusion of floral gifts.
Interment was made in Conrad Memorial cemetery. To the stricken father and mother, the hearts of the people of Whitefish and Kalsipell go out in deepest sympathy in these hours, when their hopes are crushed and life looks so desolate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whitefish Pilot, Thursday, September 2, 1909
page 1 col 5
SHOCKING ACCIDENT
Vernon Larter Received Injuries That
Caused His Death Shortly Afterwards
Last Friday afternoon, shortly before five o'clock, the whole community was startled to hear the shocking news that Vernon Larter, the only son of R. W. Larter, the well-known locomotive engineer, had been accidently killed.
Vernon was assisting his father in making some repairs on a motor boat in Sprague and Tenner's boat house, in the river at the head of Central Avenue. They had just completed the repairs when Vernon jumped into Sprague's boat that was moored right along side to test the motor. It happened that the crank for starting the engine was hanging on the shaft, and as soon as he put the electric switch on, it exploded it's charge of gas in the motor that had been standing 30 hours. This is something unusual and was not expected because there are very few motors that will hold their compression for that length of time. As soon as the explosion occurred it started the motor running backwards at a thousand revolutions per minute, and the great centrifical force threw the crank off, striking Vernon on the left side of the face and over the eye. It then bounded over and struck Mr Larter in the side with such force as to fracture a rib and daze him.
It did not render Vernon unconscious. He stopped the motor and helped his father up, and extinguished a torch which was setting fire to the boat.
When his father recovered and realized what had happened they hurried to the office of Dr. Houston, where the doctor purposed they go to the hospital where there are better facilities. Vernon walked all the way and was conscious all the while and talked of the accident saying that he wanted it to be kept from his mother until the doctor has fixed him up.
When they arrived at the hospital he got upon the operating table himself and assisted in getting ready to administer the anesthesia, but before the chloroform could be given to him, he expired.
Upon examination it was found that the blow had fractured the base of the skull, causing internal bleeding to the brain, which was the cause of death.
Vernon was born in Kalispell in January 1896, and was 13 years, 7 months, and 26 days old at the time of his death. His home was there until the family came to Whitefish when the railroad division was moved here. He was a bright, manly boy, the pride of his parents and beloved by all his associates.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C.N. Platt at the home Sunday afternoon, and a special train provided by Superintendent W. R. Smith carried the mourners to Kalispell, where services were held in the Presbyterian Church by Rev Fisher. The church was filled with Whitefish and Kalispell friends and there was a great profusion of floral gifts.
Interment was made in Conrad Memorial cemetery. To the stricken father and mother, the hearts of the people of Whitefish and Kalsipell go out in deepest sympathy in these hours, when their hopes are crushed and life looks so desolate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
page 1 col 5
SHOCKING ACCIDENT
Vernon Larter Received Injuries That
Caused His Death Shortly Afterwards
Last Friday afternoon, shortly before five o'clock, the whole community was startled to hear the shocking news that Vernon Larter, the only son of R. W. Larter, the well-known locomotive engineer, had been accidently killed.
Vernon was assisting his father in making some repairs on a motor boat in Sprague and Tenner's boat house, in the river at the head of Central Avenue. They had just completed the repairs when Vernon jumped into Sprague's boat that was moored right along side to test the motor. It happened that the crank for starting the engine was hanging on the shaft, and as soon as he put the electric switch on, it exploded it's charge of gas in the motor that had been standing 30 hours. This is something unusual and was not expected because there are very few motors that will hold their compression for that length of time. As soon as the explosion occurred it started the motor running backwards at a thousand revolutions per minute, and the great centrifical force threw the crank off, striking Vernon on the left side of the face and over the eye. It then bounded over and struck Mr Larter in the side with such force as to fracture a rib and daze him.
It did not render Vernon unconscious. He stopped the motor and helped his father up, and extinguished a torch which was setting fire to the boat.
When his father recovered and realized what had happened they hurried to the office of Dr. Houston, where the doctor purposed they go to the hospital where there are better facilities. Vernon walked all the way and was conscious all the while and talked of the accident saying that he wanted it to be kept from his mother until the doctor has fixed him up.
When they arrived at the hospital he got upon the operating table himself and assisted in getting ready to administer the anesthesia, but before the chloroform could be given to him, he expired.
Upon examination it was found that the blow had fractured the base of the skull, causing internal bleeding to the brain, which was the cause of death.
Vernon was born in Kalispell in January 1896, and was 13 years, 7 months, and 26 days old at the time of his death. His home was there until the family came to Whitefish when the railroad division was moved here. He was a bright, manly boy, the pride of his parents and beloved by all his associates.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C.N. Platt at the home Sunday afternoon, and a special train provided by Superintendent W. R. Smith carried the mourners to Kalispell, where services were held in the Presbyterian Church by Rev Fisher. The church was filled with Whitefish and Kalispell friends and there was a great profusion of floral gifts.
Interment was made in Conrad Memorial cemetery. To the stricken father and mother, the hearts of the people of Whitefish and Kalsipell go out in deepest sympathy in these hours, when their hopes are crushed and life looks so desolate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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