Tragedy at second base

For The Madera Tribune

Not even the death of a second baseman in 1901 could keep players from playing baseball in Madera.

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One of the worst accidents in Madera’s history took place on May 4, 1901, when Fred Kirkpatrick, a young man in the full flush of his manhood, was accidentally killed while playing baseball. 

The Madera team, to which Kirkpatrick belonged, was practicing for a game. The batter hit a pop fly toward second, and Kirkpatrick and James O’Mara started for it from different directions. Team captain J. G. Roberts called out for Kirkpatrick to take the ball. O’Mara evidently didn’t hear, for he kept on in his race to make the catch. 

The men came together between first and second base. The force of the impact knocked O’Mara down, and Kirkpatrick staggered, put one hand on his head, took several steps, and fell to the ground. When his teammates rushed to him, they found him unconscious. 

Dr. Butin was summoned and a few minutes later Dr. Byars arrived. The physicians worked hard for two hours trying to bring the young player to consciousness but without avail, for the boy’s neck had been broken, and he had probably died a few minutes after he fell. 

The doctors were assisted by several of the young man’s friends. Several ladies who were present sent to their homes for blankets and stimulants to assist in the work of restoring the young man.

The body was taken to the Thede residence where Kirkpatrick had been living. An examination showed that his neck had been broken, O’Mara’s head having struck him in the jaw. 

Young Kirkpatrick was a popular young man, universally loved and esteemed. He came here from Clovis to work for the Madera Sugar Pine Company and had been working in the box factory. His quiet, genial nature won him many friends who felt his loss keenly. Although James O’Mara was held blameless in the matter, he felt much sorrow over the sad event. 

Kirkpatrick was born in Marsh County, Kansas in 1880 but came to California about 1898. His family settled in Clovis. A few months before the accident his mother died. His father and two of his brothers lived in Clovis where one of the brothers was very sick. Two other brothers and two sisters lived in the east. 

A coroner’s jury viewed the remains at the Thede house. The inquest was held sometime later. Coroner Jay ascertained the cause of the death of F. K. Kirkpatrick came Sunday while playing baseball. The following named men composed the jury: M.K. Kirby, S.D. Tooker, John R. Murphy, K. Moore, W.E. Metcalf, and W.H. Willett. A number of witnesses testified, and their statements as to the collision between the two men were similar. Dr. Byars gave it as his opinion that the deceased was dead as soon as he struck the ground. James O’Mara testified that he ran for the ball and had his head turned watching the ball. He did not see Kirkpatrick who came from another direction. He struck him with his head and shoulder, the force of the collision throwing him to the ground. Another witness testified that when the men came together O’Mara was knocked four feet away. The jury rendered a verdict to the effect that Kirkpatrick came to his death from a broken neck caused by accidental collision with another player.

The mill closed down in order to allow the employees to take a last look at their dead companion. Each of the men brought a large bouquet of flowers; the women stripped their gardens and sent floral tributes of respect to the young man’s memory. 

The following from the mill and lumber yard acted as pall bearers and bore their dead companion from the house to the hearse: F. Gray, J.M. Stevens, N. McFaul, W. Metcalf, W. Willet, and C. Griffith. The men from the mill were drawn up in two lines from the door to the hearse and the pallbearers marched through them with the remains of their friend. 

The hearse left at 9:45 for Clovis where the funeral was held. A number of the millmen drove over to Clovis to attend the funeral.