The evening times., 1898-09-17
SUNLIGHT FATAL TO Hin
Exposure TO 1t Causes a Sick
Boys Death.
LIVED IN SEMI-DARkNESS
Willie Shutter, Affected With Spinal
Meningitis. Du-eIt in n Luxurious
Underground CclIar-The Glare of
Day Produced Fatal Commissions.
TEriNed i'm Subtcrranean Room.

New York, Sept. T.-Despite his faith
srs infinite and loving care, William
Sautter died at Dobson's Ferry Sunday,
and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery
on Tuesday last. Young Saut.er was ten
years Of age. and from ais birth had suf-
fered with spinal meningitis.
His father DR. Charles T. Sautter
druggist. carefully studied his sons case.
For almost two years the boy lived IN
gerground, and Ihrived there physically,
while his father also nur ,ured his ne
elected mind.
Whatever the exciting cause. sunlight
seemed instrumental in provoking the
convulsions with which young William
suffered. In the semi-dai kness OF his
subterranean home these spasms were
less and less frequent. Gradually the
boy appeared to be able 10 endure the
sunlight At last his father took han To
Dob5's Ferry, hoping the country air
would further invigorate him.
But there the spinal meningitis took on
an acute form, The spasms recurred vio-
lently, and William died in conyulsions.
Ills mother died when Willie was very
young. He was placed in care Of female
relatives, and because OF his weakness
and disease was never taught even the
meaning of words.
More than two years ago his physi-
clans told his father there was no hope
for the boy. As a last resort DR.. Saut-
ter determined 10 put into practice the
theory he had formed after long and
careful study Of his sons case. He had
concluded that his boy needed freedom
from sunlight, absolute quiet and unin-
terrupted rest, and he determined how
his only child should have all Of these.
The cellar under DR.. Sautter's drug
store is twenty-five feet wide, 100 feet
long and hcwn out of rock. Its atmos-
phere is absolutely dry. In the front Of
the cellar DIR. Sautter partiuoned of q
space about twenty-One feet by fifteen.
The little room was luXuriously furnish
ed; soft carpets and rugs were on the
floor; there We're handsome furniture,
pictures and bric-a-braC and two folding
beds-one for the boy, the other for his
father
A cluster Of electric lamps lighted this
apartment. so strangely situated, which
none but boy and father ever entered.
and into which a ray Of sunlight never
shone.
The remainder OF the big cellar was
outset the boys health improved in his
novel habitation. Ills excessive nervous
ness disappeared, he slept weil, the con-
vulsions grew less frequent and he gain
ed in weight
Delighted. his father began the work
OF educaton-hard, tedious work, but a
labor of love. The boys brain was IN
impaired, although undcve!oPed; he was
receptive, eager TO learn Soon he could
enunciate plainly; he learned to spell, e
read. A box of tools gave him amuse-
ngent and exercise. Besides, he rode d
tricycle. in the cellar.
BY degrees DR.. Sautter tried 10 accus-
tom Williams system TO the daylight. lie
took him driving in carriage with cur
tainS closely drawn. At last he was GER
tain his boy could face even The noon SIN
without suner1nS. he took him TO the
country: the disease reieveloped wiki
frightful acuteness and William died in
ConvulSOns.