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The Independent, Goldendale, WA., July 4, 1912, page 1

MYRTLE SMITH

     Died at Crofton Prairie, June 24, 1912, from being bitten by a rattlesnake, Myrtle, the youngest child of William and Rosa Smith, aged 3 years, 7 months and 8 days.
     The little girl was playing about twenty feet from the house, when suddenly she screamed and came running to the door.
     It was thought at first that she was bitten by her pet kitten, but the suffering of the child, the two peculiar looking wounds on the finger and the fast swelling hand told the mother at once that it must be a rattlesnake bite, so with presence of mind she corded the arm at once and telephoned for a physician. He came within an hour and did all he could to save the child's life, but after suffering terribly she died about four hours after being bitten.
     Mr. Smith was in Oregon at the time and all efforts to locate him were unsuccessful so he did not hear the sad news until four days later.
     The funeral services, conducted by Rev. J.E. Adams, were held at the Spring Creek school house and then the little one was laid to rest in the Spring Creek cemetery.
     The little girl was the "baby" and a favorite with all the family who will greatly miss her.
     The sympathy of the entire neighborhood goes out to them in their hour of sorrow.

A Friend.


The Independent, Goldendale, WA., June 27, 1912, page 1
"Local"

     On last Monday morning while playing in the yard at the family home at Crofton Prairie the three year old daughter of W.B. Smith and wife, was bitten on one of her fingers by a rattlesnake. Within five minutes the hand and arm was swollen very badly, and within three hours, the child was dead, after undergoing intense suffering. Dr. Hartley was called, but was unable to save the the little one, as the poison had gotten all through the child's system before he could reach her bedside. The little one was buried at the Spring Creek Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. The Smith family has resided in Klickitat some two years, coming here from Oregon.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer