The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-17

FROZEN TO DEATH IN AUGUST,
The CuriOus Fate That Overlook n
New York Saloon Proprietor.
From the New York Express.

| iIolh lne NtW ! uIk ENpfebB,
A small group of respectfully dressed mel
stood in front of the saloon ut No. 31S Fourl
avenue this morning, discussing something il
u hushed tone. The front door Mas closed
the blinds drawn and ON tho shutter WA
posted paper on which was written, in leg
ible characters: "Closed on account of DEATH
The bitter wall ola woman was heard from
one of the upper rooms of tho house. A
miidle-aged man, passing on hia way up
town, joined tho group, with whom lie seem
cd familiar, and asked the cause of the I'm.
usual circumstances Louis ia dead" re-,
piled one of them. Dead spoke to him at
l O'Clock lost night" replied the, other.
"Well, he was frozen 30 death after that"
was the reply. The conversation had aug,
meDLed the group, ''Frozent to death 10 Now
York city in AugusL-what arc you giving
ut" ejsculsted one Of the newsouuers, with
an increduous smile. "He means no has
been sunstruck," observed a companion. ~
do not. mean just what | say Louis o.
tersen Was frozen to death" A reporter en-.
tered. Stretched on the floor, cold and
stark, was the body ola man who had been
in vigorous health and spirits at l o'clock
this morning. Ihe features were placid aud
composed so that tho dead man re.
semblpd sleeping person. There were no
indications OF suffering in the features; every
muscle was composed, and it was evident
that the man had died very easy death.
Andrew Jacques, an actor, residing in the
house, told story the substance of which IL
as follows The deceased was proprietor
of the saloon which was called the College
Hotel. AT about o'clock this morning
ho was in conversation with Mr.. jacques, and
expressed his intention to close up. jacques
retired to his room. Oltersen die not 90 I'm
stairs, and his wife came down to search for
him. She found the place closed and CON-
cluded that her husbond had gone out. She
remsined up all night crying. At 8
O'Clock the bartender, who resided in the
house, came down to open the saloon. He
found the keys lying on the counter, and
then knew his employer had not gone out.
Search was then made. On descending TO
tho cellar the door of tho immense ice-box
was found to 90 closed, MS usual. The bar
tender opened It and then his worst fears
were realized. Sitting on the chair was the
AAi9oibh NkBalShtty hNuNs AhklbIhutG
was summoned and he was removed 10 the
bar room. Dr. Vanderpoel, of Twenty
fourth street, was summoned and he asserted
that the heart was still beating, but that
the man was dying, In few mo-
ments he was dead. A policeman Was
called in and tho coroner was
notified. In reply to questions from tho
reporter several of the friends of the decessed
declared tina. tho rumor that the man had
suicide WAS groundless. They say
that OLtersen was the iolliest and gay est
man of their acquaintance. His financial
were good and hia domestic
relations happy. His spirits we're un-
usually buoyaut last night and no gave
inst uciions to the employees rs 10 the ma
terials they were TO purchase toNdey. TIE
probabilities were that he entered the box TO
Obtain relief from the heat, that no fell asleep
and was frozen TO death. They are certain
he did not intentionally close the door of the
ice-box. and incline to the theory that il shut
of itself while no was asleep. Had IL shut
while he was awake, 1t is clear no would
have called for assistance, and his wife beipg
up would have hesrd him. Death could
not have resulted IRON euifoca,ion, as there
was sufficient aperture 10 permit OF the adj
mission OF enough cir. His sudden sleep ia
accounted for by the suppositlon that he had
some bocr in him when no entered the box.
Ho had been complaining of the heat for tho
past few days. Decea;ed was forty years
old, had been in this country for twenty. five
years, and fought in tie union army during
the rebellion. lie eerved in the sixtySsixth
regiment, snd held the rank Of adjulsnt He
was q member Of the grand army of the re =
public, He was also secretary of vocal
society. He bears tho reputation of having
been very good oitizsn. His wife is 80
much afflicted that she has had TO have medi-
cal assistance.