Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-04-06
Sudden Death of Matte Kaltenbach.

The following account of the death
of Matte Kaltenbach We copy from
the Mineral Point Tribune Of The 31st
ult:
Among the many painful duties of
life, as editors, no sadder task has
fallen upon us than to record the
following:
A young man, named Matthias
Kaltenbach, about % years of age,
recently came to our city from Boss
cobel seeking employment as apoth-
ecary's clerk, bearing letters of in
PRODUCTION from respectable physi-
clan CT that village and was en-
ployed in the Drug Store of B. Il
c. Il Moffett.
During the first month of his stay
be won the confidence of his em~
ployers and the esteem of several of
our citizens, having joined the Good
Templars Society, and conducted
himself in all respects as became a
temperate, moral gentlemen. But
during the past three or four weeks
he has,-though always at his post
been suspected by his employers of
imbibing too freely of the liquors in
the store, appearing dull and stupid
constantly-wholly unlike himself
This state of things continued to grow
until last Friday, when about noon
be became delrious, and the truth
appeared ;sshe had been constantly for
weeks in state of semi-intoxication,
a. Il result Of which delirium tremens
had now siezed him. During Friday
afternoon and night and all day Sat-
urday he laved and suffered In the
evening of Saturday, about o'clock,
Captain Likens and Dir. Averill, who
We're acquainted with him in Grant
county, went to the Globe Hotel,
where be was boarding, to see the
unfortunate young man. While they
were there be said that he must 90
up town, which they tried to prevent,
but the landlord saying he had been
out several times during the day and
always returned in short time, they
ceased to struggle with him, and he
went out. They attempted to follow
and watch him, but be eluded them.
All that can be known Of him after
this, is that, at about Q O'Clock, be
was found a mile and half north of
the city, in the settlement of Barrel
town, a corpse. Persons living near
where he was found, heard some one
halloaing and making a noise, bnt
paid little attention, thinking it was
some one returning home drunk, as
is some times the case. A young man
passing discovered him. Intelligence
was brought to town, and team
sent out to bring in the body.
An inquest was held Sunday morn
ing, land verdict returned that he
came to his death from delerium tre-
mems and exposure His clothing
indicated that he had been rolling 10
mud and water, which, in the opinion
of physician. suddenly chilled the
brain, producing CONGESTION and al
most instant death. Captain Likens
took the body on Sunday to his par
ents at Potosi, and represents their
grief as not to be described.
Young Katenbach left his home
at Potosi some three years ago, SO
ber, good boy, and went to Bescobel
to clerk for his brother>in- law, DIR.
Dyer, in the drug business. From
this no doubt, may be dated his en-
trance on The road which has led to |
his horrible and untimely death
Situated whore the poisoned cup in
its most enticing shape was ever be-
fore him, while yet too young to re-
alize his danger, be acquired taste
for liquor which he was unable to
shake off, though be made every
possible effort to do so
This little history of Matthias Kali
tenbach, his pale, cold face, his terri
BILE death struggle-alone, on the
damp bosom of his mother earth, in
the dark hours of night-as our i'm
agination sees him-is more forcible |
temperance lecture than ever flowed |
from human lips, or was ever penned |
by human hand 1t is one Of Gods |
essays and what young man can be
SO mad, after reading the lesson
taught therein, as to follow the foot
steps of Matthias katie bach ?