Looking back 120 years, it's difficult to imagine a time when almost as many Cuban as U.S. flags lined Chariton streets as Lucas County celebrated Independence Day on July 4, 1898.
But by then Americans had been in a high state of excitement for months as the Spanish-American War continued and just the day before, on July 3, U.S. naval forces had decisively defeated the Spanish at Santiago de Cuba, assuring both Cuban independence and an end to the war.
The day itself was beautiful and down at what we now call Yocom Park, preparations were underway for a mock battle on the waters of Lake Como, which then filled much of the park. Inspired by the May 1 Battle of Manila Bay, another decisive U.S. victory, this would cap the day's celebration as fireworks were launched from mock battleships afloat on what really was just a large pond.
Tragically, that mock battle would result in the drowning death of 15-year-old Harley Gartin and so it was remembered for years after as a day of sadness in Chariton rather than as a day of celebration.
Here's The Chariton Patriot's report of the day, published on July 7. The report's chronological approach reads a little oddly now:
THE FOURTH IN CHARITON
The Day's Doings. Sad Drowning of Harley Gartin
A fairer day for the celebration of Independence Day never dawned on Chariton than did Monday, July 4, 1898. It was just cool enough to make it a comfortable day for the majority. There was no dust to make it disagreeable and no rain interrupted the celebration.
The inspiring early morning news from the seat of war sent thrills of patriotism through the hearts of the citizens. The boom of the fire cracker was kept up from early in the morning until nine o'clock, the mayor having issued a proclamation forbidding the firing of the crackers after that hour until four o'clock in the afternoon. From four o'clock on the noise was furious from the favorite means of expressing patriotism. Old glory floated from every public building in the city and the majority of the private residences and business houses displayed both American and Cuban flags. A large crowd had gathered in the city from all over the county. There must have been almost two hundred who came from Russell alone. While quite a few came from Osceola, Lucas, Albia and Creston.
Agnew's Band arrived from Creston about ten o'clock and it was most truly faithful in discoursing sweet music throughout the day. A large audience was continually around the band stand. The excellent music furnished by this band proved to be Chariton's chief attraction on Monday.
Appropriate exercises filled the morning hours. The Declaration of Independence was well read by Miss Cora Combs. Rev. G.W. Roderick of the M.E. church delivered the oration. Rev. Roderick's effort was exceptionally fine. His clear, decisive tones were a satisfaction to his listeners, he being readily understood for quite a distance from the band stand.
In the afternoon bicycle and horse races were held at the fair grounds and all sorts of races, such as potato, fat man's, old man's, one-legged and sack races were held on the south side of the square.
While all of these races were in progress, C.L. Parsons of Bedford was delivering an address in the northeast corner the square to the prohibitionists of the county.
After four o'clcok the people were free to again celebrate in a howling, uproaring fashion and cannon crackers were generously used in celebrating our victory over the Spanish at Santiago.
The Evening's Fatal Accident
The band gave a concert in the park between 7 and 8:30 o'clock and after that the crowd went down to Lake Como to witness a reproduction of Dewey's battle with the Spanish at Manila. Toy battle ships had been constructed and the boys had been drilled in using them. The ships moved out toward the supposed Spaniards and the firing of sky rockets began. The sight was a beautiful one for a few minutes and then the firing ceased and it was seen that one of the ship's stock of fireworks had caught fire.
Impatient cries of "Put 'em under the water," "Ain't you going to burn those ships," and after the firing had ceased altogether such remarks as "That fight was dead easy" and "This is twenty minutes for breakfast" were heard. The people on the north bank of the lake, in the meantime, had seen a boy jump from the ship on fire into the water. The boy was Harley Gartin.
Albert Stuart saw him jump and, thinking his clothing had caught fire and knowing that Harley couldn't swim, he jumped in to his assistance. Harley had gone down once when Albert reached him. Albert told the drowning boy to hold on to his shoulder and he would get him out. As soon as Albert struck for shore, Harley grabbed him around the waist and they both went down together, three or four times. Albert at last got loose from Harley and made for the shore, arriving there in a totally exhausted condition. This was happening within thirty feet of the shore and only one or two realized that a struggle for life was going on in the water.
Albert called "Help, he's drowning and we'll both go under," but it was considered by the onlookers as part of the fight. After the word was passed that a boy was drowning, the people still stood dazed, it seemed, hard for them to realize the fact. After almost a half hour had elapsed, H.O. Penick, Dave Storie, Gerald Brant, Joe Kridelbaugh, Frank Stuart and Frank Manning went into the water to dive for the boy. They worked bravely, with no accurate knowledge of the place of the boy's disappearance. they were successful in locating his body and lifting it out, after it had been in the water fifty minutes.
In the meantime physicians had been summoned and they and others did all that human power could to bring back the life so lately extinct, but their efforts were of no avail, and after an hour's faithful work they desisted and the remains were carried to the boy's late home.
C.F. Gartin, the boy's father, was not at the lake during the drowning, but was sent for, and his agony and sorrow over the loss of his only son was heart rending. The mother was witnessing the sham battle, but did not see her son go down and was not aware of the sad end until she accidentally overheard it.
If there had been outcries made so the people generally would have known such a shocking catastrophe was taking place the boy would have been saved in all probability. The fatality has cast a gloom over the entire community.
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Young Harley, born during 1883 on a farm in Benton Township, was the only son of Charles F. and Lillian (Eakin) Gartin. He had moved into Chariton with his family in 1890, following Charles's election as county sheriff, a position the senior Gartin filled until 1896.
Short funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon at the family home and burial followed on the lot of his grandparents in the Chariton Cemetery. In addition to his parents, Harley was survived by a sister, Fern.
Three years after Harley's death, Lillie and Charles Gartin became the parents of another son --- Keith, born on Dec. 15, 1901. Many of us remember Keith still as a grocer and one of Chariton's leading businessmen. He died during 1966. When Keith was 5 years old, Charles F. Gartin died at the age of 57 and was buried next to Harley.
Lillian Gartin continued to live in Chariton until her death during 1936 and at that time her husband and son were disinterred and reburied on a lot with room for future burials elsewhere in the cemetery. So if you care to explore you'll discover two tombstones in the cemetery commemorating the life of that boy who died on July 4, 1898.
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