Eck, Josephine (d. 1941)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Jul 23 p. 1

Birth date:

text of obituary:

JOSEPHINE ECK GORED TO DEATH WHILE DRIVING CATTLE HOME FROM PASTURE

Tampa, Kansas. — The community was deeply saddened last week over the tragic death of Josephine Eck, daughter of Benjamin Eck, who was gored to death Wednesday, July 16, by an enraged bull as she was driving the cows home for the evening's milking.

the attack came so suddenly that she was unable to run for safety. Hearing her cries for help, members of the family ran to her rescue but she was already too badly mangled to save her life. She was rushed to the Hillsboro hospital but died 10 minutes after arriving there.

Funeral services were held at the Tampa church Sunday, July 20.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Jul 30 p. 1

text of obituary:

MISS JOSEPHINE ECK LAID TO REST AT LOGAN MENNONITE CHURCH AT DURHAM

Last week the Review published the report of the death of Miss Josephine Eck, who was fatally injured at the home of her brother, Dan Eck, north of Durham, Kans., Wednesday evening, July 16.

The Hillsboro Star of July 24 gives the following further details about the tragedy:

Miss Eck had gone out to drive the cattle into the corral while they were near the barn. The accident happened near the barn. Mrs. Eck heard the woman scream and the barking of the dogs. She saw the woman lying on the ground and the bull backing up rushing toward the body and pummeling it. Mrs. Eck grabbed a pitchfork and made for the bull but the animal had ceased to attack by the time she got there.

Miss Eck was conscious when her sister-in-law came to her rescue but was so badly hurt that she asked them not to move her until more help arrived. Her brother came shortly after the accident and Miss Eck was placed in a blanket and brought to the hospital in Hillsboro as soon as possible. She passed away at about 8 o’clock.

The women folk had been in the habit of getting the cattle in from the pasture and the bull was not known to be mean, never showing any tendency to fight before. Miss Eck said she was standing near the lot when the bull suddenly made a lunge at her and knocked her down. So far as was known no bones were broken but she was badly bruised and injured internally. Her right eye was completely knocked out. How this happened is not known since the bull had no horns.

Funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon and at the Logan Mennonite Church north o Durham. The services at the church were in charge of Rev. F. H. Wenger, of Hesston, burial in the nearby cemetery.