The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-08-15
Death Of Will G. Ross.

DIED.-At his home in Clifton, OF Sat
urday morning Aug. s, 1891, ut $50
o clock, Will G. Ross, eldest son of MIS-
Amanda Ross, aged 30 years and II days.
The most shocking and tragic death
that has occurred IN Sully county for
several years was that of Will G. Ross,
who only 3G hours before his demise
was strong, healthy and promising
young man with plans laid for pros
porous future for himself and the easy
maintainence of his widowed now be-
reaved mother to whom he was a de-
voted son and comfort. 1t is truly
sad that a young man like Will Ross
should be so rudely taken away with
out moments warning just as he was
settling down for useful and honora-
BILE life. HIS death is sad blow to
the community and doubly so to his
mother and younger brother who de-
pended upon him for their support,
which he was providing in credible
and laudlble manner To them his
death is an lrreparable loss, and they
have the heartfelt sympathy of the en-
tire community. The writer has been
intimately acquainted with Will since
he was ID years of age, has watched
his course and was pleased to note his
disposition to provide an unincumber-
ed home for himself and mother, which
but few boys of his age and opportuni-
ties give thought, and the many other
good traits he possessed.
The circumstances that caused his
sudden death are about Us follows:
On Thursday afternoon he, in com
pany with |. S. Rlckert and Harry
Botsford, were fixing pasture fence,
just east of Clifton on the Okobojo.
He had previously seen a number of
ducks on a pond near the pasture so
borrowed an old muzzel loading shot
gun and took it with him on this occa-
sion to kill some of the ducks. When
the work of repairing the fence was
completed, about > o'clock p. IN, he
had killed two and sent them home
with his companions and went TO
another pond further up the creek to
get more His companions had not
gone far when they heard n report of
the gun and supposed as he had but
one load, that he would soon be along,
| but as he did not come they went on
home, never thinking Of any danger
and not until after sundown did they
suspicion that any thing was wrong.
Mr.. Rickert then began search for
him but found nothing but his hat
which was some distance from where
he lay when found Mr.. r.. aroused
the neighbors and the search was kept
up until after one o'clock in the morn
ing, when he was found wetering in a
pool of his own hfe's blood, and a part
of his forehead blown away, in an in
sensible condition, from which he never
rallied. He was taken home and
DR.. Pease called to dress the wound
and everything possible was done to
relieve him, but no relief came until
6:20 Saturday morning, when he pass
ed quietly away.
The breech was blown off the gun
and the supposition is that the terrible
wound was made by the blowing out
of the breech-pin, which has not been
found, though thorough search has
been made for it.
| Funeral services were conducted at
his late home by Rev. Nj. Ash on Sun
day morning, attended by large
audience ofsympathising friends. The
remains were brought to Onida for in
terment followed from Clifton by q
procession of twenty-six teams. AT
the cemetery Rev. +. Shultz conducted
a short service.