Alvin Shay Died 1926

SHAY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/11/2018 at 17:43:40

Sioux City Journal
7 January 1926

Is Killed When Bobsleds Crash
Junior High School Lad Is Fatally Injured in Accident

The first fatally from coasting accident here this season occurred Wednesday evening at Leeds when Alvin Shay, 15-year-old junior high school lad, met almost instantaneous death when the sled on which he was riding crashed into aa overturned bobsled on the ice at the foot of a hill on Van Buren Street.

Alvin who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Shay, 4205 Tyler Street, was coming down the hill on a sled, while seven other boys of the neighborhood, who had been coasting on another sled just ahead of him, climbed from where their bobsled had overturned on the ice at the foot of the hill.

The boys shouted a warning to Alvin to avoid sliding into the sled, which was directly in his path, but evidently, he had no time to swerve from his course and crashed into it, striking his head against the heavy timbers. The boys took the injured lad into the Robert Brownlee home, 4243 Van Buren Street, but he was dead before medical assistance could reach him.

Postmortem examination by Dr. M. J. Ryan showed that Alvin had suffered a fractured neck and that one arm had been broken as well as suffering severe body bruises in the collision.

Dr. J.H. Robbins, county coroner, was summoned and began an investigation of the accident. He will continue the investigation today.

The deceased was born in this city 15 years ago and at the time of his death was a pupil at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School.

Besides the parents, Alvin is survived by one sister, Vernis and one brother, Marvin.

The body is at Anderson’s undertaking establishment pending funeral arrangements.

Sioux City Journal
8 January 1926

Thirteen Sioux Cityans Injured or Killed in Coasting Accidents Here

Winter Sports Has Proved to Be a Dangerous One

With the death of Alvin Shay, Wednesday evening and the injury of Hazel Johnson, 4-year-old, Thursday, Sioux City’s toll of coasting accident victims was brought to 13 for the season.

Hazel suffered cuts and bruises about the head and face when she lost control of her sled and crashed into the rear of an automobile near her home. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.A. Johnson, 1415 Hill Avenue. The injuries suffered by the girl were not serious, members of the family said Thursday evening.

Funeral services for Alvin Shay will be conducted at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the family home, 4205 Tyler Street and at 2:30 o’clock at Olivet Presbyterian Church. Rev. D.M. McIntosh will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Park Cemetery. Anderson’s undertaking establishment has charge of funeral arrangements.

There are about 22 hills in Sioux City, designated as “coasting hills” by the city park department, on urgent petition by parents and others who like to see children have a good time. Although the streets cannot legally be blocked from traffic the park department has set up wooden “horses” near the entrance to such coasting hills to warn the public that children coast there.

Following is a list of the coasting accidents that have been reported since the season began.

December 21- Evelyn Harwood, 11 years old, 513 Blair Street, suffered a broken arm when she was thrown from her sled as it struck another on the Blair Street hill.

December 23- Miss Lillian Cohen, bruises were suffered by Edgar Scheizelt, a school boy, 1713 Patterson Street, when his sled coasted into an automobile parked near the intersection of Royce and Patterson Streets.

December 23 – Miss Lillian Cohen 1404 Blair Street, suffered several fractured ribs, a fractured wrist and severe cuts and bruises when the sled upon which she was coasting collided with another and overturned on the Blair Street hill.

December 23—Severe cuts and bruises were suffered by Eva Hammett, 16-year-old, 1523 West Edmunds Avenue, who was riding with Miss Cohen when the sled collided with another and overturned.

December 31—Parker Davis, 11 years old, 4219 Van Buren Street, suffered a fractured leg when his sled overturned on the Leeds Hill.

December 31 – A slight fracture of the skull was suffered by Charles W. Lewis, 8-year-old, 2019 Magnolia Street, when the sled coasted into a car parked on the South Olive Street hill. He has almost recovered.

December 31 – Dale Coffman, 4-year-old, suffered a deep gash on his head and minor v=cuts abd bruises when his sled ran into the rear of an automobile at the intersection of West First and George Streets.

January 1—A school teacher, W.J. Knupp, 1823 Isabella Street, suffered a broken leg when his sled ran into a parked automobile in the 1900 block on Allen Street.

January 1 – An unidentified boy was slightly injured on Court Street when he was thrown off his sled in a collision with a track on the Court Street Hill.

January 2 – Clifford Jacobson, 10-year-old, residing near Thirty-Second and Morgan Street, suffered the loss of several teeth and severe cuts about the mouth and chin when his sled coasted into an automobile at the intersection of Thirty-second and Morgan Streets.

January 6—John DeWall, a school boy, 505 Main Street, suffered slight injuries to his head when his sled collided with an automobile on the Main Street Hill.

Sioux City Journal
9 January 1926

Rites For Sled Victim Today
Coroner Finds Fatal Accident Was Unavoidable

Funeral services will be held this afternoon for Alvin Shay, 15-year-old Leeds boy, who was fatally injured in a coasting accident Wednesday evening.

Services will be held at the home of the parents, Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Shay, 4205 Tyler Street at 2 p.m. and at Olivet Presbyterian Church at 2:30 o’clock. Rev. D.M MacIntosh will officiate.

An investigation of the fatality was made by Coroner J.H. Robbins Friday. The coroner said the questioning of those who had witnessed the accident revealed the fact that the death of the lad was accidental. He suggested that coasting on the hill be barred in the future on account of danger, because of the great height and length of the hill.

The fatal accident occurred at the foot of the hill when the sled on which he was riding crashed into an overturned bobsled.

Anderson’s undertaking establishment is in charge of arrangements.