The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-05-31
SHOT HIMSELF.
Young Fred Smith Killed by an Acct
dental Discharge Of his Own Rife.
A Heart-RenderIng Fatality.


Fred P. Smith, the thirteen year old
son of Mrs. C. d. Smith, who resides
at the corner of Clark and Locke sts.,
accidentally shot himself shortly after
noon Friday and died about an hour
later. He was unconscious until the
time of his death.
The little fellow, like many other boys
of his age, was very fond of hunting
and had been up the ravlne back OF
Prospect Heights hunting squirrels with
a small, twenty-five callbre rifle. On
returning with his game, little chip
monk, he started to climb over the
fence into his mothers yard, and though
it is low fence of only two boards. in
some manner, which will never be
known, The rifle was discharged and the
bullet struck the bows head, entering
just above the left ear. Fred uttered a
cry of pain and started toward the
house and managed to keep his feet
until his mother came, and she caught
him in her arms Just as he was about
to fall. She had heard his usual call
as he approached within hearing dis
ance, and in Il moment more heard a
scream. Neither she nor her daughter,
cartridges were almost noiseless. Miss
Smith on hearing the scream had a
feeling that her brother had shot HIM
self and told her mother of her fears.
The latter imme dlately started to see
what the matter was, arriving, as stat
ed, in time to catch the boy as he fell.
Fred was carried into the house and
DIR. Andrews was summoned as soon as
possible. He arrived with his partner,
DIR. Steel, about twenty minutes after
the accident occurred. The boy was
then very low from the shock of the
injury and loss of blood. He was un-
conscious, and probably had the doctors
arrived five minutes later they would
have found the lad dead. AS it was,
their utmost efforts were sufficient to
sustain life scarcely turee-quarters of
an hour. They were unable to restore
consciousness. A preliminary probing
failed to discover the whereabouts of
the bullet. The boy died about 1:3O
p. IL.
The report of the accident spread rap
idly through the neighborhood and
many of the neighbors offered their
services to stricken family. Mrs. Smith
and her daughter bore up well under
the awful strain of uncertainty that pre-.
C6u6u TIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI tiiC ucdth.
Freddie was bright, active young lad
and was quite well known in the city,
having carried the Pioneer Press and Tri-
bdne during last summer and winter. He
was almost always seen on a little sor-
rel pony and the two were familiar sight
to many of our citizens. He also carried
telegraph messages when not employed
carrying papers. He came to Mankato
a wear ago last month with bis mother
and sister, coming from Minneapolis.
His father has been dead for several
years. Mr.. A. b Smith, the telegraph
manager, is his cousin. He had not
delivered papers recently. Though
rather small for his age, thirteen years,
he was always on the 60 and never con-
tend unless at work or PLAYING with
his young friends. He went hunting
quite frequently and had alwavs been
very careful in handling his rifle.
The sympathy of the entire commun-
ity goes out to the afflicted family.
Funeral services over the remains of
Fred P. Smith, who accidentiy shot him.
self Friday, were held at the resi-
dence at 80 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Rev. L. c. Hudson conducted the SER
vices, assisted by Rev. L. l.. Cory. A
large number of sympathizing friends
and neighbors were present and many
accompanied the remains to the Omaha
depot, where they were shipped to Pres
colt, Wis. to be buried beside the remains
of the late father of the dead boy. Mrs.
Smith and daughter accompanied the
remains to their last resting place.