Pastor Gored By Bull, Tragic Details Announced

Iowa, August 1920

PASTOR IS GORED BY BULL

Head of Orphan Home in Iowa Killed in the Presence of Children.

Muscatine, Ia. — While trying to adjust a halter on a young bull Rev. Julius Doden, acting superintendent of the German Lutheran Orphans' home, south of this city, was fatally gored.

He died 15 minutes after the accident, which was witnessed by a score of children and employees, who were powerless to give aid.

Rev. Mr. Doden was for 27 years pastor of the Lutheran church at Wilton, prior to which he was teacher in the Muscatine parochial school.



REV. J. DODEN KILLED BY BULL

Details of Tragic Fate of Clergyman Announced in Daily Press of Last Evening

Details of the tragic death of Rev. Julius Doden, of Vinton, announced in the Daily Press last night, have been received from Muscatine where he was gored to death by a bull, Tuesday.

The sad story, under date line of yesterday, runs as follows.

Attacked without warning by a vicious bull, gored into unconsciousness, and hurled repeatedly against the sharp concrete foundations of a stable, Rev. Julius Doden, acting superintendent of the German Lutheran Orphans' Home, south of this city, and one of the best known parochial educators in Eastern Iowa, received injuries from which he died fifteen minutes later, before medical aid arrived.

The accident occurred at 5:30 this morning and was witnessed by a score or more of boy inmates, who assist in the milking, and by Ben Brewer and his wife, employees, who occupy a cottage opposite the home.

Attacked Without Warning.

Mr. Doden, who had little experience with stock, went into the stable yard early to adjust a muzzle, which had become loosened during the night, on a two-year old Holstein bull. He was standing close to the concrete base of the stable, when the bull with a sudden movement of the head knocked him down.

He arose and backed away. The bull followed, intercepted him and tossed him several feet in the air. Mr. Doden fell heavily on his head, and it is supposed he was unconscious from that time until rescued.

Hurled Against Concrete.

The animal now thoroughly aroused, forced his victim against the concrete base of the building and gored and butted him until he lay motionless. In the meantime the alarm had been given and dozens rushed to the unfortunate man's assistance.

Miss Emma Schlundt, matron at the home, was first to arrive, closely followed by Ben Brewer, who had witnessed the entire tragedy from his cottage across the road. Together they lifted the superintendent into a wheel chair and he was taken to his room in the main building. D. J. L. Klein was immediately notified by telephone.

Regains Consciousness.

Rev. Doden regained partial consciousness after being placed on the bed and seemed to suffer intense pain. He recognized those about him and appeared to realize what had happened but in a few moments again relapsed into unconsciousness and remained so until his death, fifteen minutes later.

A brief examination, after the arrival of Dr. Klein, showed but one skin abrasion — a small wound on the back, supposed to have been made by the stub of the animal's horn, when he turned his victim over toward the concrete wall. Internal injuries were apparent and it is believed one or more arteries were ruptured and that internal hemorrhage resulted.

In County Many Years.

Dr. Doden had been acting superintendent of the orphans' home since June, when he came here from Wilton to take temporary charge until a successor to Rev. C. L. Ramme, former head of the institution, could be named. For twenty-five years he was pastor of the Lutheran church at Wilton.

He was a man of high character and integrity and had been repeatedly urged to take the position permanently, but felt that after so many years devoted to pastoral work he would not be satisfied to labor in other fields. He was 59 years old.

Helped Found Home.

Prior to taking up church work in Wilton, Rev. Doden was a teacher in the Lutheran school, Muscatine, and in that capacity was for several years associated with the late Rev. Henry Reinemund, founder of the Lutheran orphans' home. Mr. Doden also helped in many ways to start the institution along the broad and liberal lines which have been characteristic of it since it opened its doors to homeless children twenty-five years ago. Mr. Doden was known personally to hundreds of Lutheran parishioners in Muscatine and adjoining counties, both as a forceful and eloquent preacher and a man of profound religious convictions.

Relatives Notified.

He is survived by four children, two daughters and two sons — Gretchen and Marie, residing with an aunt in Wilton; Herbert of Rock Island, and Julian, employed in a drug store at Moline. His wife died last spring, shortly before he took up his temporary duties in Muscatine.

Relatives were notified immediately following the accident. The funeral arrangements will be announced later, but the services and interment probably will be at Wilton.

The vicious bull was running at large today in the home pasture, but it is announced that, having developed killing tendencies, it will be either sold or killed. It is a pedigreed Holstein of considerable value and here before it has been quite gentle. As a menace to the children, however, the authorities will dispose of it at once.

—Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City, Iowa, August 18, 1920, page 3. That's the reference for the long article only. The other is just a general press report, actually from the middle of September of 1920, without any reference to when the accident occurred.