Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1901 — A SAD DEATH. [ARTICLE]

A SAD DEATH.

Miss Sarah Cowglll Found Dead Near Her School. This community was shocked Tuesday morning by the receipt of a telephone message announcing the sudden death of Miss Sarah Cowgill, a sister of Undertaker Cowgill, while on her way to her school house in Kankakee township, wnere she was engaged in teaching. Miss Cowgill had been boarding with the family of Mr. Belcher, and left at the usual hour for the school house to prepare it for the day’s work. She had been more or less troubled with her throat and some time before at her place of boarding had had an attack that came near choking her to death. Since that time Mr. Belcher had been in the habit of sending one of his children to the school with her, but on the morning of her death failed to do so. She left her boarding house in good spirits and Bhortly thereafter Mr. Belcher noticed that no smoke was issuing from the school chimney, and sent his little girl to see if anything was the matter. Near the school building the girl discovered Miss Cowgill in an unconscious condition She was removed to the school house and expired in a few moments, before medical aid eould reach her. The body was allowed to remain in the building nntil the arrival of the coroner and her brother, who brought the remains back to Rensselaer, arriving here at 2 o’clock yesterday morning. Dr. Ira Washburn, who accompanied the coroner to the scene of her death, pronounced the caupe of her death to have been acnte congestion of the lungs and the verdict of the coroner, who held an inquest, will probably be in accordance with the doctor’s opinion. Dr. Washburn also says that Mißs Cowgill was undoubtedly dead before her body was discovered by the roadside. When found it was in a sitting position with the hands on the head. Miss Cowgill with her mother came here from Pana, Til., only last sum mer, but during her short stay all who had made her acquaintance had learned to love her, and her untimely death is a blow to all. Her brother and others started with the remains last night to Pana, her old home, where interment will be made.