OBIT: Arthur HAYS, 1880, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

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Death in the Toy Pistol.

  Arthur Hays, a little 5-year-old son of Dr. David S. Hays, of 
Hollidaysburg, died at the home of his parents, yesterday morning, 
after a brief illness.  His disease was tetanus or lock-jaw, and was 
the result of a slight cutting of one of his fingers by a piece of 
copper cartridge thrown out from a toy pistol that the lad was firing 
off on the Fifth of July.  No attention was paid to the comparatively 
trifling wound at the time it was afflicted, and the occurrence had 
almost wholly been forgotten until Wednesday last, when the symptoms of 
the disease manifested themselves, resulting in the death of the little 
fellow as stated.  The many friends of the family throughout the county 
will be pained to learn of the sad affliction which has visited it.
  Our Hollidaysburg correspondent sends the following additional 
account of the accident: On July 5, Arthur Hays, aged about 9 years, a 
bright and interesting son of Dr. David S. Hays, while in company with 
some other children who were celebrating the day, was struck on the 
middle finger of the left hand by the paper wad of a blank cartridge 
used in toy pistols.  A very slight wound was made, so slight indeed 
that little complaint was made by the boy, but in a few days the finger 
became inflamed and very painful, and gave evidence that the nerves 
were bruised and injured.  The pain grew worse in spite of the best 
medical treatment, and threw the lad into spasms, and lock-jaw 
resulted.  A consultation of physicians from Altoona and our town gave 
no hope.  At 11 o'clock yesterday death came to the relief of the 
little sufferer.  Although there are other children left, the death of 
little Arthur falls with a deadening weight upon the family circle.  A 
blank, dreary and sad, is made.  The funeral announcement has not yet 
been made.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, July 17, 1880