The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-10-09
HOW HE MET HIS DEATH.
Further Particulars of the Fatal
Accident.

Mrs. Marion Pratt has received the
following additional particulars con-
corning the death of Samuel G. Pratt
They are furnished by the train dis
patcher for the Southern Pacific Com
pany. The communication is dated
Wadsworth, Nevada, October 5th: I'm
accordance with my message this morn
ing, write to further detail the de-
plorable accident that happened to Mr.
Pratt, at Hot Springs, yesterday morn
ing. He had been ordered to Toano
and intended to start on the train yes
terday morning, the train being an hour
late. Mr.. Pratt took walk up to the
springs, nearly half mile from the
station. About the time the train was
due at Hot Springs, Miss Van Hyning,
day operator at that place, called me on
the wire and told me she was afraid
Pratt would not get back in time to
take the train, that at that time she
could see snothIng of him returning
from the springs. Fearing that some
was sent up, who found the poor boy
<,
unconscious and badly scalded
1t is supposed he must have been in
the spring come time before he could
extr5cate himself. l have never visited
this spring myself, but from those that
have l learn the surrounding banks of
this particular spring are quite danger
Gus. The boiling hot WAFER rises with
such force that it undermines the banks
of quicksand formation, so that a
stranger is very apt to step to the
brink of the bank and his own weight
will cave the bank and himself into the
treacherous spring. I am satisfied in
my own mind that this is precisely how
this accident happened, notwithstand-
ing the theories advanced by others.
He was carried down to the stati n
placed on a coal car on which a mat
tress was placed and taken here as soon
as an engine could cover the distance. a
doctor summoned and comfortable
quarters provided for him at our lead
ing hotel, and everything was in
readiness long before the train arrived.
Our citizens were overlooking with
sympathy and We'd with each other as
to the comfort of our unfortunate
CO Lrade. The doctor upon examina-
ton, found that there was no possible
chance for his recovery and everything
possible was done to relieve his suffer-
ing.
The accident must have happened
about $50 am. He returned to con-
sclousness about 3 pm. spoke of his
aunt. Ills sisters. Mrs. Snow and Mrs.
DOUGLAS; said he had no will to make,
that he had nothing to leave.
Our Justice of the peace tried to fake
his dying statement concerning the ac-
cident, but do not think there should
be any Importance attached to it what
ever, rs the doctor who was present
didn't think the poor boy realized fully
the questions asked and the answer s
given, his pain was so intense. The
judge asked if it was accidental or with
suicidal intent. He replied, 1T was
not suicidal intent, at the same time it
was not wholly unintentional.
The poor boy expired at 4 p, M, and
think he showed a remarkable con-
stitution to have lasted so long. for he
was terribly scalded, the skin and
nails coming off and the flesh had to
be handled carefully. For this reason
we could not dress the remains except
in shroud.
The remains left here by passenger
train this morning and hope they will
go to their destination all right. While
regret to see so much expense at
tached to them, believe me, that we
did the best we could. The metallic
casket cost US 5000 at Reno, hence the
amount so la-ge. In conclusion, let
me assure you that you have the
heartfelt sympathies OF myself and
family, and in fact. of the whole COM
munity, in your hour of sorrow. If
| can be of any service to you, do not
hesitate to let me know"