River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-09-24
a >cene of Gayety suddenly Becomes
one of Manning.

tFrom the Detroit Free Press, Sept. l01
Shortly before eleven O'clock last night
occurred one { the most frightful TRACE
dies that has shocked the city for years,
and under circumstances that render it
pitifully terrible. A party was given at
the residence of Nelson ). Whipple. No.
3BI Lafayette street east, in honor of a
young son fifteen years old. To this
party came a score or more of masters
and misses, and among them frankie
Amsden, young lady fifteen years old,
the daughucr of A. II. Amsden, No, 1853
Aubin avenue. The pleasure was at its
height in the parlors, the young people
laughing, chatting and singing, when sud.
denly with short but terribly sharp
sound come the report of gun, and al.
most instantly thereafter young Whipple,
with face blanched and features distended,
dashed into the throng and exclaimed
She's shot she's shot" tainted away.
The father, Mr.. Whipple, upon hear
ing the sound of the gun, rushed through
the parlors and up stairs, just in time to
catch IN his arms the falling form Of Miss.
frankie Amsden, who with face besttered
with blood had staggered from the front
chamber to the stair landing, where, fall.
into Mr. Whlpple's arms, she expired al
most instantly. To picture the dlsmay
that fell over the group of companions
who but moment previous were filled
with glee of youth would be impossible,
bu' the scene was awful. Young Whip.
pie was unconscious his mother had faint
Cd away, several of the young guests had
fled into the stree: in terror, and the
rooms were filled with the sounds Of sob.
bling and grief. One young gentleman,
with wonderful presence of mind, strated
Immediately for a doctor and dispatched
a componion to Russell street police sta
ton for the coroner. Meanwhile the
neighborS, awakened by the sounds,
hurriedly dressed themselves, and soon
house, yard, and the street adjoining
were filled with people.
About half an hour after the accident
occurred Coroner Rowley arrived and
seclectiug jury went up stairs to view
the body. 1t lay at the head of the
stairs covered with sheet, which being
taken off that the jurors might see the
corpse, revealed a pitiful sight. Miss.
Amsden's features, beautiful even in
death, were covered with blood, the hair
matted and stiff was smoothly brushed
away from her forehead and held tn
narrow black velvet band; around the
neck was gold l)cket and chain which
lay as it fell when the wearer received
the fatal charge, while the neatly fitting
and very becoming cherry colored silk
waist gave evidence of kind mothers
pride and care. The carpet beneath the
head was colored with dark pool of
blood, while the walls were despatched.
1t seems, according to the stories rela-
ted to the jury, that Miss Amsden, With
another young lady whose name could
not be ascertaned, and young Whipple
were in the front room up stairs. Miss
frankie looking into closet saw
dOuble-barreled shotgun standing in the
corner, and said: "Ohi I'm going to have
some fun" She took up the gun and
started to go to the hallway, when by
unknown means one barrel was dischar-
ged. 1t was loaded with No. shot, and
a great portion Of the charge struck Miss
Amsden just under the right ear, and
passing through the head back of the
Jaws came out beneath the left ear,