Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-26
POISONED BY POKE.
Frishtful Results of Experiments by
Boy Botanists.
A Party Of Seven Urchins Have an Exper-
ience Which Results in the Death
of One of Their
Number.

Yesterday morning between ten and
eleven o'clock party Of seven boys, named
respectively James Boyce, William Gavin,
P. Hanson, Andy Wright and his little
brother, John Carney and boy named
Lynch, all living in Centre Wheeling, pro-
cured skiff and crossing the river to the
lower point of the Island, rowed up Back
river along the western edge of the Island,
for the purpose of gaining surrepitious en-
trance to the Germanis Singing Society
picnic, in progress at the New Fair Grounds.
Failing to attain the
OBJECT OF THEIR TRIP,
the urcbins, who ranged in age from nine TO
fifteen years, rowed on up the river
until near the foot of Ohio street, presuma-
bly, for the purpose Of playing In the soft
50 indy bank of the river or of going in swim
ming While in this vicinity some Of them
found q quantity of yellow poke root
lying along the bank, aud installing it for
sweet anpis, they began to gather and eat
it. BoyCe and Gavin swallowed con-
siderable quantity Of the poisonous root,
but the other boys contented themselves
with chewing few mouthfuls
and then throwing it aside, its biting, bitter
taste not striking their fancy. A few min
utes before twelve o'clock, as nearly as can
be ascertained, young Gavin began to COM
plain of feeling unwell, and in few min
utes he was
THROWN INTO COMMISSIONS,
falling out of the skif in which he was
seated into the river. His comrades seem
to have been paralyzed with fear, and in
stead of going to the help OF the
writing and half drowned boy they scat
tend and run in all directions, crying for
help. After time, however, John Carney
and Andrew Wright, went to Gavlns aid,
and succeeded in getting him ashore.
Gavin was still in commissions, and would
probably have died in a short time had not
q man named William Dolsn heard the
frightened cries Of the boys and gone to their
cid. He succeeded in making the
boy eject the contents Of his stomach,
and then put him in the sSif, and
assisted by two or three of the other boys,
took him to his home in Centre Wheeling,
lust in the rear ofLobenstein tannery,
where he lay in commissions all afternoon
and evening, being attended by two skilled
South Side physicians. Late last night he
was reported better, with the chances in his
favor.
About ten minutes after Gavin fell into
the river, another of the boys. James Boyce
was also taken with cramps in ais stomach
and
WILD WITH THE PAINS,
he started up the bank to the
foot of Ohio street, with the
idea of walking home via the suspension
bridge. Before the boy had taken twenty
steps he was again seizsd with violent
ramps in his stomach, and in his agony he
started to run up the street. followed by one
or two of his companions who had left Gavin
to look after him. The poor boy suffering
untold anguish, ran westward along Ohio
street until near the corner of Wabash,
when he fell to the ground, with
ing in commissions His comrades, by their
cries, brought a number of people living in
the vicinity to the scene, and the boy was
assisted along the street to the corner OF
South Huron, where he fell on the sidewalk,
in front of the residence Of Mr.. Fred Bye.
Here quite a large crowd Of sympathetic
people soon gathered, and the unfortunate
lad, who by this time was passing from one
CONFUSION into another. accompanied with
the most irightful sufferlngs, was carried
into Mr.. Byes residence and messenger
dispatched for DR. Myers. By the time the
physician arrived the lad was in
DYING CONDITION,
his body being covered with cold per5pira,
ton, his eyes fixed and CLASSY and his teeth
tightly clenched. The people attracted to
the scene before the Doctors arrival, not
| understanding The case, and being unable
10 gain any knowledge OF what was
The matter from Boyce's comrades, had ap-
oiled various domestic remedies to the
patient, of course with no beneficial
result DR.. Myers at once in
augurated the most energetic measures for
the relief of the boy, but he continued to
sink, becoming toward the last totally blind.
| At times the little sufferer would cry out:
Take me ont of thisl | want to get out!
Take me out quick. and several times
he escaped from the couch upon
which he was lying and attempted to
run, on each occasion dashing himself
! AGAINST THE WALL
or some article of furniture. His mother
vas sent for and arrived ::st Mr.. Bye's resi-.
| derce about half past one o'clock, and after
doing what she could for her boy s relief
she left fer home to make arrangements to
have him removed thither After her de
.srture her son grew rapidly worse, and
died about three clock in great agony.
Mrs. Bovce returned with an express
wagon and some quilts and blankets about
four o clock, but her boy was dead. The
BODY was at once removed to his
late residence, where large crowd Of
sympathetic ueighbors and friends had
gathered. Young Boyce was stave joiner
at the Belmont cooper shops, and was al
most the sole support of his mother
None Of the other boys seem to have
been
SERIOUSLY EFFECTED
By the chewing of the poke root although
thew were badly frightened at the fearful re-
suits which followed the eating in the cases
of their, companions. The affair created
great excitement on the South Side aud Oh
tie Island, and thsmost exaggerated &C
counts of the matter we're in circulation, it
being reported several times that two, three
and four OF the boys composing the party
were dead.
A SKATING carnival will take place at the
Cbaphne street rink on Saturday night
next, for the benefit Of the Eighth ward
Hose house. All are invited TO attend and
u,;;Ss the gallant boys boom.
VERY DESIRABLE,
To Cleveland and Return the Same Uas.
The fact that one can go to Cleveland,
| rouaip tharo 0var forr home on1 -otr-. -.