Old Missoula

 

John Vickers Dies Suddenly

 

Came To Missoula in Seventy-one From Cedar Creek Placer Mines.

 

Without Warning the sure hand of death suddenly removed another of the pioneers of Missoula yesterday. While walking quietly along a North Missoula street during the forenoon, John Vickers, aged sixty-two years and well known, sank suddenly to the walk and expired before help that was nearby could reach him.

 

Artery Ruptured.

 

Death was due to the rupture of an artery near the heart. The deceased had not complained of other than usual health to anyone so far as could be learned, his death coming as a great shock to those with whom he lived and who know him best.

 

Doctor Too Late.

 

With the realization of how serious must be the attack that caused sudden prostration, Dr. Parsons was summoned. He found Vickers quite dead, and pronounced the cause as stated above.

 

While there existed no suspicious circumstances a coroner’s jury was impaneled before Justice of the Peace W. A. Houtchens, which promptly returned a verdict that death was due to the causes stated by Dr. Parsons.

 

Came Here in ’71.

 

Vickers had lived in Missoula since 1871, at that time coming from the Cedar creek placer mines. Prior to his going there he had been employed as a boatman in Washington and Oregon. Upon coming to Missoula he at once found employment in the Higgins and Worden flour mill, remaining there until the closing of the mill a dozen years ago. Since he had been employed by the Missoula Water Company, by whom his services were valued.

 

The deceased never married, and is survived by a brother and sister now being at Portland, Oregon. Information of the death has been sent these relatives and pending instructions the body will remain at the undertaking rooms of John M. Lucy.

Article from Missoula newspaper The Fruit Grower and Farmer, Dec. 13, 1901