St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-16
FROZEN TO DEATH.
Tragic Death Still Follows tht
Unfortunate Emerson
Family.
Peculiar Circumstances Sur.
rounding the Late OF Hit
tie Richard.

John Baker, lad of seventeen years,
occupies cell in the Ducas street po-
lice station at the order of Coroner
Whitcomb. The boy is held for an in
vestigation today into the cause Of the
death Of Richard Emerson, boy of only
fourteen years Of age
1t is peculiarly sad case. The liner
son boy was frozen to death, SO far as
superficial indications go, but there is
story behind the death.
AT 9 O'Clock yesterday morning the
two went hunting for rabbits. They
had gun and some ammunition, and
they set out in the bitter cold only half
clad. The Emerson boy wore two thin
and short coats and knee pants. He had
pair of ragged leggings. made appar-
emily from gunny sacks, and thin and
poor pair of cotton stockings, tull Of
| rents and holes. He had no overshoes,
and was, all in all, miserably clad
The two walked down the river from
South st. Paul and crossed to Pigs
Eye lake on the east bank. Then they
continued their course to point opp0-
site the Annapolis street station, when
Richard Emerson became helpless, and
soon after he was totally unconscious.
Johnny Baker became frightened, but
he herOically stood to his task. Taking
the boy in his arms he crossed the ice
to the station, with the assistance of a
man he happened to meet not far from
Annapolis street. Here a telephone
message was quickly sent in to Sergeant
Zirkelbach at the DucaS street station,
who ordered the patrol wagon straight
way, and the dying boy was taken to
the police station. DR.. Hawkins
cnnndilW cd f,nf In
lad was already beyond human
aid or skill, and he breathed his last in
Sergeant Zirkelbach's arms. DR.. Haw-
kins had concluded to send the little
sufferer TO the city hospital. it tram
spires, and the sergeant was taking him
to the patrol wagon when the boy
breathed his last.
Coroner Whitcomb was then notified
of the fatality. His inquisition into the
facts had not progressed very far Wneu
he learned that the boys had had bot
tie of whisky, and Johnny Baker was
still in a state of inebriation. The lad,
it seems, works for Bowlin'S wholesale
liquor house, OH Sibley street, and he
had smuggled bottle of whisky from
the place the night before with the ex-
press purpose of having a merry hunt
yesterday. They had drank heavily
during their long and cold tramp, and
the ImerSon boy, it is thought, became
powerless through the influence of the
liquor.
Further inquiry developed the fact
that the Baker boy had taken his help
less cOmrade to Anstett'S saloon, on his
way to the Annapolis street station, ard
there Mrs. Anstett endeayered to arouse
the boy by giving him hot coffee, but all
attempts were futile. The boys shoes
had been filed with snow, and his feet
were frozen stiff.
The remains were taken by the police
to Volk's undertaking rooms on South
Wabasha street, where DR.. W hitcomb
will hold an inquest at l o'clock this aft
ernoon.
The Emerson boy is the son Of
widow living Oh jackson street, near
South st. Paul, and about three blocks
outside the city limits. His father had
been government gauger at the South
st. Paul diStillery, and he was killed
last year by being run into by train of
cars on the Kansas City road while
driving over a crossing. The mother
was notified of the death, but she did
not come to st. Paul last night. A sis
ter OF the dead boy came up, however,
aud viewed the corpse.
John Baker lives with his father.
Benjamin Baker, at 129 Bunker street.
Both, father and son, are employed in
the wholesale liquor store where the
boy stole the whisky.