Locust Infant

© Adair County Democrat, Stilwell, Oklahoma
Thursday, October 29, 1931
Submitted by: Annajo Cantrell Limore

Another of life's tragedies was enacted here Wednesday night. In this instance it brought out a mother's love for her child and proof that people are charitable and will risk their lives for love of their fellow man.

The little child of Mrs. Abraham Locust swallowed a hickory nut fragment Wednesday. The fragment lodged in its lung. J. Clyde White, rural school teacher, brought the mother and child to the Stilwell hospital after dark Wednesday night, driving at break-neck speed without a sign of a light on his car. At the hospital here doctors stated the child had a chance for recovery if it could be taken to a Muskogee hospital at once.

The local undertaking firm volunteered the use of their ambulance, and county authorities pledged $25 to pay for taking the mother and child to Muskogee. Ab Ritter offered the use of his automobile, and because of the speed of this vehicle it was chosen to make the trip. Charley Blanck offered his services as driver. Ritter's car started on the 60-mile race with death. Charley drove, Ab sat beside him. In the rear seat the frantic mother sat holding the child in her arms. It was dying slowly of strangulation.

They reached Tahlequah 33 minutes after leaving Stilwell. But the race with death was lost. Halfway to the goal, and the child was dead. Doctors at Tahlequah stated the baby had been dead about 10 or 15 minutes. The car was turned about, and started toward Stilwell - on the saddest journey that can be made. The grief-stricken mother occupied the rear seat of the car, holding to her bosom for the last time the lifeless form of her baby.