San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-15
A BOY SMOKER.

Death OF a Little Fellow VINO Be-
gan Using the Weed at the Age
of Seven Months-Diphtheria
Kills Him, not Nicotine.
n TRENTON, n. J., November H.
Winfield Scott Hancock Doran, the
phenomenal boy smoker, has just
died in this city, in the fifth year Of
his age His death was not caused
from the use of the weed, however,
but from an attack of virulent diph-
liberia, He had been sick only a
week.
One day, after taking medicine, he
spat it up in his mothers face, which
became swollen from the poison, it is
supposed, which was produced from
his excessive use of tobacco. The
mothers eye was closed by it. His
mother says that he smoked from the
time he was seven months old. She
keeps boarders and the men
used to take him upon their
knees while they were smok-
Ing tbclI pipoo anu siHo hiLi 10"
puffs. The child seemed to be great
~ gratified by the taste and would
always insist on having his turn at
the pipe when his father was smok-
ing. The habit grew on him so that
whenever he saw a pipe he would
cry for it. AS he grew older he be-
came the talk of the town. A few
days before he was taken sick I saw
him smoking cigarette on the street
where his parents live. He looked
older than he really was.
What's your name, my little
man?n asked.
Winfield Doran," he lisped, with
the difficulty of pronunciation COM
mon to those of his years.
do you smoker"
"I don't now. I used to-" was the
reply.
Wishing to know how long since
the youthful retormer had sworn, off,
Mrs. DOran was asked when he had
last smoked. She said the last cigar
she knew him to smoke was on Sun
day, the day before, but one. pull
ed out my cigar case and selected
weed for myself. The youngster
looked on with eager eyes and at last
said: eyes, L smoke"
"Will you have cigar?" asked,
at the, same time offering him the |
case. He took one out and placed it
in his little mouth, scarcely large
enough to encompass 1t.
"What do you say for it?' chided
his mother, watchful of the boys po-
likeness.
''Thanks. Get me a match"
"Here'e a light" said the boys |
father. The little fellow took the |
proffered match and, first lighting
his own cigar, handed the light to |
me. He made a cloud of smoke about |
his head, and he seemed to enjoy the
cigar in a superlative degree, and,
boylike, soon ran out into the street, |
cigar in hand.
EYES," said his father, ~ used to
give him new clay pipes tol
play with, but he wouldn't
have them. He preferred my
strong one, and was not satisfied un-
til it was filled and lighted for him.
Why, any time he will sit down and
smoke up strong cigar as soon as ]
will"
"Last winter" began the mother,
proud of her sons accomplishment,
"he had his cigar after dinner the
same as the men. People told us it
was awful and that it would
kill him, but our family ply
stefan said it would not hurt him
and that he would stop it him.
self some, day. 1 have often been
stopped in the street by people
who were amazed to see baby in a
baby's carriag smoking q cigar. We
don't encourage him to smoke any
more and would be glad if he would
STOP"
Ee was general favorite among
his boy companions, and notwith-
standing the little fellow died from
diphtheria a crowd gathered around
his parents residence tonight to get
glimpse of his remains. His funeral
will take place tomorrow afternoon.