Complexities of John Goudge's death at Chariton

A young man named John, riding the rails as many who had little or no money did at the time, died as a result on Chariton's outskirts as darkness settled in on the evening of June 19, 1923. His friend and traveling companion, who witnessed the death, fled.

That's John, front and center (and at left) in a track team photo from a Henryetta, Oklahoma, yearbook. His coach, Daryl Gardner, who also had a part in the story, is at left. And Pete Mitchell, who was visiting Lucas County when John was killed, is standing to John's left in the group photo.

There was no identification on John's body when authorities arrived at the depot in Chariton that Tuesday evening, but they determined the next day that the deceased was John Goudge, 19, a student and star athlete at the Henryetta high school. 

The death was duly reported in The Herald-Patriot June 21, but that newspaper complicated the task of tracking down more information a century later by spelling the surname of the deceased three different ways ---- Googe, Goodge and Goodeg --- without ever getting it right. In fairness, that took only a few minutes to sort out. It was, however, notably careless newspapering.

Here's The Herald-Patriot story, published under the headline "Young Man Met Instant Death: J. Googe of Henryetta, Okla, Had Skull Crushed While Riding Engine Tank."

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A fatal accident occurred in the outskirts of this city on Tuesday evening, June 19, 1923, as passenger train No. 2, east bound, was leaving the city. 

Two young high school boys by the names of J. Goodge and Clark Smith, both of Henryetta, Okla., had boarded the engine of Train No. 111 at Humeston in the afternoon and rode to Chariton. They had been visiting with some school chums from their home town in Humeston and started out for some point in Indiana to find work.

Here, they boarded the engine tank of Train No. 2, which pulled out of Chariton on schedule time, at 9:43, and  when about a half mile from town the coal hoist was raised, which throws the coal down to the fireman. It being steam operated, when it was lowered it caught J. Goudeg,  aged 19,  fracturing his skull  and causing instant death.

His chum, Clark Smith, who was riding with him, gave the alarm to the engine crew and the train was stopped and backed into Chariton with the lifeless body. The chum, evidently shocked and frightened, disappeared and has not been seen since.

No identifying information was found on the body of the unfortunate young man, but railroad officials got into communication with Humeston officials, and Pete Mitchell of Henryetta, Okla., and Ralph Gardner, of Humeston, motored to Chariton Wednesday morning and identified the body.

Ralph Gardner's  brother was coach of the track team of the high school at Henryette, Okla., and these boys had come north to  look for work and had stopped at Humeston to see their track coach. Young Goudge was a star athlete and had won first place in the Oklahoma state high school track meet.

The body was removed to the Beardsley undertaking parlors and prepared for shipment to the family home in Oklahoma. A brother will arrive here this evening from Henryetta and accompany the remains back to that place.

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Down in Oklahoma, John's death was reported on June 20, the day after his death, in The Henryetta Daily Standard as follows. A few of the details are inaccurate, not surprising at a time when information still was shared most often by telegram.

John Goudge, Henryetta high school track star, was killed last night near Chariton, Iowa, when he fell under a moving train, according to a telegram received this morning by his brother, Henry Goudge.

Young Goudge was on his way to Humeston, Iowa, where he expected to visit with Daryl Gardner, coach of the high school here. Pete Mitchell, another high school athlete, who is visiting with Coach Gardner, sent the telegram from Chariton, where he went this morning on learning of the death of his companion.

John Goudge left Henryetta shortly after school closed last month and spent several weeks visiting at Stillwater, Okla. He then left for Iowa where he expected to spend the summer. He was prominent in school affairs, and was a talented vocal singer as well as a good track man. He had recently set a new record for the 100 yard dash at the Ada tournament and took second place in the dash at Norman, despite an injury.

Henry Goudge will leave tonight for Iowa where he will make arrangements to accompany the body of his brother home for burial. John was the son of Harry Goudge of this city, who is employed by the public schools in charge of the janitor service.

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Henry Goudge arrived back in Henryetta with his brother's remains on Saturday evening, June 24, and funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at the Henryetta Methodist Church. Burial followed in that city's West Lawn Cemetery.

Daryl Gardner eventually returned to Humeston to make his home, passing in 1974 at the age of 77. He is buried in the Humeston Cemetery. What became of Pete Mitchell and Clark Smith I can't say.