The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-26
CAUSE IS ESTABLISHED
Inquest on the Death of Robert
Robertson.
ABRASIONS ON HIS HEAD
May Have Been Caused by the Efforts
to Resuscitate Him Witnesses
Relate the Facts in the
Sad Affair.

The circumstances surrounding the
unfortunate occurrence of last Sunday
morning in which Robert Robertson
lost his life at Crystal Springs, COM
monty known as Thornton Springs,
while bathing with a party of friends
who had gone to the springs for a jol-
LITIGATION, were recited in detail a. an
inquest held at Sherman's undertake
ing rooms last evening by Acting Cor
oner Laurandeau. The facts as given
In h testimony were about as stated
In the Standard at the time. and the
jury so found. rendering a verdict find
Ing that Robertson came to his death
by drowning.
Otto F. Schoenfelt, manager Of the
springs resort, was the first witness
He said hat Saturday night a party of
about As people gathered At the springs.
They INDUCED in a dance till about IL
o'clock, then they had dinner and af-
forwards went bathing. The deceased
was missed after a time n was found
in the bottom OF the plunge I'm about
four and a half feet OF water. Witness
said deceased frank five cups of coffee
at supper. Witness said there were
some abrasions of the skin on the fore
head of the deceased which the witness
thought must have been caused by roll
ing him over a barrel in the effort to
resuscitate him. Witness aid in his
opinion the deceased drowned from go
ing into the water after eating a
hearty meal. The witness stated that
1t was not true, as had been asserted.
that the steam in the plunge room at
the time being very dense, was the rea-
son the deceased was not missed soone
by his friends.
Joseph New was one of the party
that went to the springs. He saw Rob-
ertson just before he went into the wa
ter and he appeared all right. All
hands were swimming and Robertson
was not at once missed. When he
was, witness helped to get him out.
Witness contradicted the statement of
the preceding witness as to the steam
and said the plunge room vas full of
steam. Witness thought death was
u to deceased having struck his head
on the bottom of the ank in diving.
He did not believe the bruises on the
head were caused by rolling him over
a barrel.
Grant Rhoades, the nan in charge
of the bath at Crystal Springs. was in
an adjoining room when he heard some
n cry out a man had drowned. Wit
ness ran out, and was about to jump
in when the body was brought to the
surface. Witness procured a barrel
and helped roll the man and did every
ih pOEsiDft W save MIN. Nlt1ttS
said the water was about four feet n
a half deep. He did not notice the
steam. Ordinarily the water was very
clear. and witness could not account
for the fact that IL took some time to
n where the body was. Witness
not tell how long the deceased
was in the water. but he thought not
owe five or 10 minutes.
George Nevin was another of the
party. He saw Robertson jump into
the plunge. About five minutes later
he missed him and inquired where he
as. Witness inquired of all the 9TH
ers In the plunge. and a moment later
the body was found at the bottom.
said Robertson did not dive in
when he saw him. Witness could not
account for the bruises on the forehead
unless they were caused by rolling the
body. Witness knew the deceased FIVE
and did not know of his having
any silment.
James A. McQuaig was also one OF
he party. He co~rroborated the state
of the preceding witness, and said
he had measured the water found
Il five and a half feet deep. At this
the water was lower Ina when
was drowned. Witness said
the bruises were made by rolling the
body on the barrel. IL was the obser-
alton of the witness that there was
steam in the plunge
-oom.
Henry Riegser related the circum-
stances Of the drowning in practically
he same lanxuage as the previous
witness.
John d. Wilson. who dove down and