Albert William Haas (1869-1918)

HAAS

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/25/2021 at 15:06:42

The Kossuth County Advance
Algona, Iowa
Wednesday, March 27, 1918
Page 1, Column 5

A tragedy which stirred Whittemore to the depths occurred Monday afternoon after 3 o’clock. Al Hass being killed when a cistern in which he was working caved in, and a ton, more or less, of bricks and earth fell upon him.

Mr. Haas, with a son about 18 years old, was at the home of one of the Elberts, and was cementing the interior of a cistern, and his son was helping him outside. Just before the accident Mr. Haas told the boy to be careful, for he had felt some cement fall upon him. The boy backed away, and at that instant the earth gave way, and Mr. Haas was instantly buried beneath the bricks which lined the upper wall of the cistern and a large quantity of earth. When he had been taken out it was found that his neck was broken, and no doubt he died without knowing what had happened.

The funeral is to take place this afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Whittemore Methodist church, and Rev. J. W. Jeffries, of Algona, will be the officiating minister.

Mr. Haas was about 55 years old, and was a mason and carpenter by trade. He left a family of four, consisting of his wife, a son about 21 years old, another son, who was with him at his death, and a daughter about 15 years of age.
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The Algona Courier
Algona, Iowa
Thursday, March 28, 1918
Page 1, Column 5

A. W. Hans, a well-known contractor of Whittemore. was instantly killed Monday afternoon when a cistern in which he was working caved in, burying him and breaking his neck.

Mr. Haas and his son were repairing the Elbert cistern and Mr. Haas was at work on the inside. His son was lowering material to him when his father told him to be careful as he felt material dropping upon him. As the boy backed away the cistern caved in and Mr. Haas was buried beneath bricks and earth. When he was taken out it was found that his neck was broken.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock in the Methodist, church. Rev. J. W. Jeffries of Algona officiating.

Mr. Haas was a mason and carpenter and was about fifty-five years old. He leaves a wife, a son of about eighteen, son of twenty-one and a daughter about fifteen years old. The stricken family have the sympathy of the entire community in their sudden bereavement.