OBIT: John C. DIVELY, 1876, of interest in Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MS
<MMSGemstone@aol.com>

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_________________________________________ 

FATAL ACCIDENT

  In April last, we published the account of the death in Harrisburg, 
of a little girl named Dively, whose parents formerly resided in 
Hollidaysburg, by a blow from a base ball bat, in the hands of her 
little brother - the blow being accidental.
  The brother, who is aged about twelve years, met with a sudden and 
awful death on Friday week, the particulars of which to appear in the 
Harrisburg Patriot of the following day. It states that John C. Dively, 
the lad spoken of, son of William C. Dively, blew his brains out with a 
short musket at the residence of his parents, on Eleventh and Broad 
street. A short time before the tragedy young Dively had a dispute with 
a smaller brother as to which of the two should visit the neighborhood 
of the asylum, both manifesting a disposition to go. The younger 
brother slipped out of the house, when John asked a married sister, 
(the only inmate but him in the house) for his cap, that he might 
follow his brother. She replied that she would do as requested as soon 
as she had performed certain domestic work. While prosecuting the work 
she was startled by a loud report, and frantically rushing from the 
kitchen the ghostly spectacle of her brother lying dead on the floor, 
with the blood streaming from his head met her gaze. The skull from the 
forehead to within an inch of the base of his brain, was blown off, and 
the brains were scattered about in different directions. It is supposed 
the boy's curiosity led him to cock the musket which did the deadly 
work, and blow into the muzzle with a view to ascertain whether it was 
loaded. While thus engaged (probably having his foot on the trigger) 
the contents were discharged into his mouth. The musket was heavily 
charged, having been loaded a few days before by an older brother who 
had been out gunning but secured no game. An effort was made Friday 
morning to fire off the musket, but without success It was subsequently 
placed under a stairway, where the boy met with the terrible accident. 
The Coroner held an inquest, and a verdict of death by accident was 
rendered.

The Register, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, August 30, 1876