Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-03-17
ASHES TO ASHES.
Patrick j. Ferguson Meets Death in His
Cabin-Found Burned to u Crisp.
COrOners lnuuest

1 Cabin-FOund Burned to u Crisp.
| COrOners Inquest.
The news reached Hot Springs last
Saturday of the burning of the cabin
of Patrick j. Ferguson, about seven
miles south of town, and the fear that
he met death in the flames, as he had
not been seen since the fire. The first
that was known of the fire was proba-
bly, by art Petty who happened to be
riding past the place OH Thursday. He
did not suppose, of course, that "Pat,"
as he was known by everybody, had
lost his life, but that he was at some
of the neighbors. Consequently he
went along without paying much at
tention to it. On Friday he again
passed that way and made little clos
er inspection and as there were no evi-
dences that the stock had been cared
for he feared that "Pat" had lost his
life and he and Tom brought word to
town. Several citizens went out and
we're not long in ascertaining the awful
fact that Pat had been burned, they
finding some charred human bones.
The next day Coroner Joyce went out
and brought in the remains and on
Monday called an inquest, with g. G..
Wooster, Ewald Huebner and I. c..
Parsons as jurors. All the afternoon
/! of Monday and all day Tuesday were
occupied in examining Witnesses
those who had been at the premises
since the fire and those who might
have any knowledge that would help
lead to just verdict as to the cause of
death. States Attorney Wilson assist.
ed in conducting the inquest. Moth
ing that would throw much light upon
the circumstances or cause of the fire
was cleaned from the witnesses. There
are some things that might lead to the
belief that there had been foul play,
but time, or eternity, may have to
solve that question.
DIR. Hargens very carefully examined
the charred remains but they were so
crumbled and burned that he could
tell nothing about them. He did, how
ever, find one spot on the chest upon
which were few layers of cloth and a
suspender buckle-sutticient to make
quite certain that deceased had his
clothes on when he met death. The
remains we're found with the bed
springs in the ashes and rubbish in
the cellar, directly under where the
bed stood, SO that he was probably
upon the bed when the fire occurred.
The building was frame, boarded up
and down, only about 12X16 feet in
size, about 8 feet high, and it seems
strange that he would not be able to
escape from SO small room, even af
ter it might be ablaze The fire must
have been unusually hot for an iron
kettle was found completely melted
down.
The last time deceased was in town
was last week Tuesday, upon which oc-
casion Father Cartier testitios that Pat
called upon him and while at his home
counted his money and said he had
GstSs aUaCA SdIClCI uOClCcu cl6veu
silver dollars and two five dollar gold
pieces, the remainder being in bills
one he observed being IA fifty dollar
bill. He said to Pat that he ought tc
place the money is a bank, but Pat
said that he thought he could take
care OF it and placed it leather wallet
in an inside vest pocket. In sitting
the ashes of the fire, the only money
found was nickle, no silver or gold
being found, and those that made the
examination say that they made a very
thorough search and would have dis
covered metal in any form. Therefore
the natural query: Where is the mon
ey-the gold and silver at least?
At this writing, Thursday, the cor
oner's jury is withholding it's verdict
until it may go to the place of the fire
and make further examination into g
few points.
Pat was probably near so years OF
age, was not drinking man, having
several years ago reformed from q
common drunkard and frequent city
and county charge. No one knows OF
his drinking any liquor since his very
complete reformation, and he has been
living a respectable. Industrious and
quiet life on his ranch, gradually in.
creasing his share of this worlds
goods, and during the past winter has
sold near 5000 worth of pork. He had
few head of horses and cattle and a
good ranch with comfortable build.
ings. We doubt if he had a personal
enemy, and it is shocking to know that
he has come to this untimely and ter.
rible death, the true account of which
will probably not be related until the
great Judge shall ask for final &C.
counting of all things earthly.
The nearest relatives known of here
is niece at Dominion City, Canada
to whom Pat ordered the STAR sent for
a year the last time he was in the city