Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-10-06
DEAD ON THE SHORE.
The Body of Young Man Found On
the Beach Near Lake Park
This Morning.
A University Student Runs Away
From Home in a Fit Of Anger,
Never to Return.
The Romantic History of His Past
Llfe-HOw He Lost Both
His Legs.

His Legs.
The finding of the dead body OF a
young boy on the shore of the lake near
the Park Resort this morning, tells the
story OF the sad end OF one of the most
romantic lives ever experienced by one
50 young
A man named James Lyond, resident
OF Pennington, was walking along the
beach at the point above named, when
he was startled by suddenly coming upon
the dead body of man stretched
out on the sand in all its bloated
ghastliness, and he Immediately pro-
ceeded to the settlement to give the
alarm. A coroner's jury was impaneled,
and proceeding to the spot where the
body lay, they
HELD AN INQUEST
Over the remains. The verdict was OF
necessity indefinite, as the only fact be-
fore them was the presence OF the dead
body, and the apparent fact that it had
tloated in from the lake.
Word was soon telephoned to this city,
and fortunately the body was soon iden-
titled from the description given. Mr..
p. o. Thomassen, clerk in the general
Office of the Utah Central Railroad, was
communicated with, and he Immediately
decided that the unfortunate boy was a
protege OF his, who had some days since
run away from home.
THE BOYS LIFE,
A f,11 h,, NJ, &, q, ,,,o,t $40
mantle one, filled with adventure 8
almost as horrible as his end. He came
here from Denmark when but child,
and for long time he lived with a friend
of his family on farm in Sanpete county.
When but IL years old the boy became
discontinued with his life on the farm, or
angry from the treatment he had received,
and
RAN AWAY
From the place he had long called his
home. Where he went, his benefactor
was never able to discover, and it was
years before he was again heard from by
his few friends.
About four years ago, however, he was
found in the mountains of Spanish Fork
Canyon, and being brought to this city
he told the story of how the few preced-
ing years of his life had been spent.
When he left Sanpete, he had wandered
northward, and by going
FROM CAMP TO CAMP
Among the sheepherders he managed to
exist At last, in the middle OF winter,
he again ran away and, leaving the
camp, was lost in the mountains, when
nearer dead than alive, he was picked up
by teamster who happened to run
across him, and was brought to this city
in fearful condition. His feet and
ankles were frozen beyond all help and
in moving him from the wagon to the
hospital,
ONE FOOT DROPPED OFF.
The other had to be amputated, and for
many weeks he lay between life and
death at the Hospital OF the Holy Cross.
At about this time subscription was
raised and his widowed mother was
brought ON from Denmark to see her
child for the first time in about eight
years. DR.. Benedict, who had treated
the boy, went to work with subscrip-
ton list and with the assistance of kindly
persons he procured the boy a
pair OF artificial legs. AS soon as he was
able to wear these he was sent to school
at the Sisters Academy, and growing too
old to remain there, Mr.. Thomassen sent
him to the Twentieth District School.
After staying there Il couple OF years he
was
SENT TO THE UNIVERSITY,
Where, up to the time of his death, he
was making rapid advancement in his
studies. DIR. Park, president of that in
ltitutinn cnaaHO II, h,S,l, 81, .
his industry and brightness.
What took the boy to Lake Park cannot
be imagined, as he has no relatives or
1t seems that on Wednesday last he had
some misunderstanding with his mother,
and in a fit of anger he left his home.
The old lady thought that he would
return as soon as his temper cooled, but
a few evenings ago she decided to inform
MIR. Thomassen OF what had happened.
Since that time the gentleman has been
on the lookout for the boy, and was very
much startled by the message received
from the north to-day.
The boys name is Christian Alfsen.
He is about II years OF age, and finishes
his eventful career in q manner that will
always leave doubt as to the cause
OF his death. The most probable
theory, however, is, that it was
A CASE OF SUICIDE,
AS no other explanation could be found
for his being in the water. The body was
in good condition, and death must have
not later than last evening.
The widow mother lives in the Nine
teenth ward, on one OF the alleys
leading off from Centre street. She
is in destitute circumstances, and has
to labor hard to support herself and her
only remaining child. The old lady will
probably he sent to Pennington this
afternoon, and it is most likely that the
funeral will take place from the Court
House, where the body now lies.