St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-04
A Lad Shot Through the Head
With a Rifle
Ball.
Otto Croft Tells the Story Of
a Fateful Acct
dent.
How He Was Healed--A Tale
Almost Without a Par
allel.
Chamber of Commerce Elec-
tion--NeWs of a Rather
Busy Day.

Yesterday Otto Croft, little fellow
of twelve years, arrived in Minneapolis
from East Dubuque, ILL.,, and he tells
story that equals in its supernatural
the miracle of the Bible. Indeed, 1t
sounds much like those wondrous
stories of the time of Christ. The little
boy has come to Minneapolis for visit
with his aunt, Madame De La Barre,
who resides at 6Os}% Nicollet avenue.
Hearing of the wonderful cure which
was claimed to have happened
TO the lad GLOBE reporter called last
evening to hear his story, and he tells
it straight.
Four weeks ago last Saturday, he was
playing near his home, in Dubuque,
when two friends returning from a
hunt came along, carrying their rifles.
During conversation between the
boys one of the young hunters rife
was discharged and the 32-caliber ball
struck Otto near the temple, just above
the right eye. and he dropped to the
ground. He was picked up a moment
later for dead. The ball had
taken a course directly backward
through the brain and lodged
in the skull. Doctors were summoned
and prObed for the ball, following its
course for four inches, but could not
find it, and said the boy could live but a
few hours. The mother telegraphed the
sad news to her sister in Minneapolis,
Madame De la Barre. She Immediately
carried the story of their sorrow to a
friend and neighbOr, c. II. Jellsett. a
Christian scientist. To her astonish-
ment he said: III the boy is alive now
he will liven
At this exact time the boy for the
first time recovered conscious
ness, and opening his eyes recOg-
niZed his friends and talked 10
them and Immediately began TO re-
cover. A letter came next to Madame
De la Barre, stating that Otto was re-
covering, but that the bullet had forced
his right eye from the socket, and that
it lay out upon his check and could not
be replaced. The lady told this also to
Mr.. Jeilsett, and the eye also recovered
rapidly. Again another letter came,
stating that the recovery was very
rapid, but that for some reason the lit
tie fellow was troubled with bleeding
at the nose. This difficulty also ceased.
Otto, who is bright little fell
low, was playing checkers when
the reporter called last night. He left
TIT - ulC anu CdillC W JCii HIS Stbiys 1t
showed fresh scar above his right eye
where the wound had been but his eye
Is perfectly well.
4 Dubuque paper, about month old.
gives an account of the shooting, and
states that the case was pronounced
fatal, and yet the boys mind was clear
and he was not suffering.
Otto says that the first that he Temem-
bers after the time when the boys were
talking with was when he awoke. as it
were, at the moment noted as
the time of the miracle. Since
that time he has rapidly recov-
cred and now seems to be all right.
Nine. De la Barre had bunch of letters
received at intervals from her sister in
Dubuqu, telling flrSt of their astOnish-
ment at the time of the cure becoming
manifest. and in succeeding letters Of
their faith in the healer. The boys
father, j. A. Croft, an employe in the
freight house of the Milwaukee road, at
Dubuque, writes letter atteSting the
power of the healer. Jellsett claims
that he has merely the power which
Christ left for all believers. He has
lived in Minneapolis for FIVE years. but
for only six months of that time has he
practiSed the art of healing.