The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-05
WAS FROZEN TO DEATH
O'Sullivan Lost His Life on the
Divide.
IN A BINDING STORM
His Travelling Companion, P. j. Downs,
Has a Narrow Escape From
Similar Fate-The Sad Death
of Fred Smith.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Virginia City, March z.-The body of
J. P. O'Sullivan, miner in this local
ity for several years past was found
about half mile north Of the old Slade
house. in the slade mining district. last
Friday morning by his friend ard COM
panion, p. J. Downs, with whom he had
been staying for soma time past. The
men above mentioned having business
| to transact came to the city on Thurs
| day morning of last week, and after at
| tending to their affairs, which appear
| to have been more than satisfactorily
| arranged, they set out on foot for their
return trip at about o'clock in the
afternoon of the same day with sutti-
cient of few stimulating beverages.
together with an extra or two tucked
away for future reference, to insure
| pleasant journey, which was apparent
ly to be such until they reached the
| summit of the divide, when they stray
| ed from their course in the whirling
snow storm, in which they wandered in
half frozen condition the long night
through In this bewildered state of af-
| fairs they came to ledge of rock over
which the wind in its fury had drifted
| the snow, both tumbling over the white
bank, some 25 feet high the force of
the fall partly stunning O'Sullivan.
| Downs, who was more fortunate, sue
ceeded in reaching the deserted old toll
house above mentioned. being directed
there by the discovery of a small patch
of willows which he spied short dis
lance ahead of him. Gathering few
of the dry twigs, he struggled on in
benumbed, half frozen condition to the
newly discovered haven of refuge.
where he kindled fire in stove which
| fate by some strange chance had left
| there. The CHEEKY influence of the
blaze soon made itself felt and the res
cued wanderer ventured once more into
the storm and darkness in search OF MS
| lost comrade, whom he found in the
place before referred to, having been
! guided thither by flock of magpies
that appeared to be lowering over some
thing. Upon reaching the spot he was
Mortified to find the dead body of his
friend, over whose face and head he
spread the coat he had been wearing as
| protection from the birds and started
for Virginia City, but the storm being
so fierce he retraced his steps and trav-
| eled toward the Kenneth mine to notify
the citizens there of what had occurred
Superintendent Miller Immediately de-
parted for Ennis, from which place he
telegraphed the intelligence to Coroner
Lowman. The body was brought to
town Friday evening and an inquest
held the following morning. The YER
dict of the jury, which was made UP of
the following townsmen, viz: c. A NC
Nulty, c. J. Wesley, T. b. Jackson, Ed
Trout, Solomon Wiles and G. Leinen-
weber, was that death resulted from
heart failure caused by the fall and the
subsequent exposure. Deceased was a
native of Ireland, So years of age. He
has no relatives in this part of the
| country as far as known. The remains
were inferred at the expense of the
county in Virginia cemetery Saturday
| afternoon.
A sad accident. resultinp in the death
of Fred Smith, resident of Junction,
near this place occurred about a half
mile above the town of Sheridan on Fri
day of last week. The victim of the
unfortunate circumstance, who, to-
gether with others, has been engaged in
hauling supplies from the railroad
terminus at Twin Bridges to the Conrey
placer dredge. accidentlv fell from his
wagon, which was heavily loaded with
timber. the front wheels passing over
his body and injuring him so seriously
that death came about two hours after
the accident. Mr.. Smith was about 81
years of age at the time OF ms death
and leaves a wife, with two small
babes. to mourn his untimely taking
away.
The marriage of Charles A. Hartwell
to Miss Louise Lamere was solemnlzed
at the home of the brides mother at
Twin Bridges Feb. %.
Miss Lizzie Steffens, in company with
Mrs o. F. Fenner, departed last Satur-
day on visit with relatives at Twin
Bridges They are the guests of Mr..
and Mrs. G. r. Wheat.
Mr.. and Mrs. r. ]. Farrell visited sew
eral days of this week with their
daughter Miss Bessie. one of Virginia
City's bright young students, VINO IL
attending the state normal at Dillon
The former will also visit other towns
in the state before returning home.
Ray Fenner, Montana's representa-
tive at West Point. was promoted to a
lieutenancy. In view of the reorganlZa-
ton of the army call for more officers
would consequently be made and the
class, which was to have completed its
course in June. the original date, grad
uated the middle of February.
Superintendent of Schools Janet L.
Davis visited the upper Ruby valley
last week on official duties pertaining to
her office. The schools in that part OF
the county. as reported, are in good con-
diton. Miss Davis expects to visit the
Madison valley schools shortly.
Mr.. and Mrs. Caswell of Ruby valley
were visiting among friends in the
county seat Wednesday.
Treasurer elect c. H. Buford, who has
been assisting in the treasurer's office
for several weeks, takes charge of his
official duties Monday, March 6.
The board of county commissioners
will meet Monday, March 6. to attend
to the many duties OF the regular March
session. during which they will pass
upon bids for the erection of an iron
bridge at the old Parsons bridge site,
much needed improvement
The Mongolian populace ceased the
hilarity incident to Chinese New 1eal
Friday, the final day of the celebration
being observed with much eclat.
Louis Fowler of Bear creek visited
Virginia the early part of the week.
r. f. Pollard of the Madison houst
departed this morning for Butte, where
he will remain a few days on business
H. H. McCord and Thomas Butler OF
Butte arrived in the city Sunday in tbs
the interest of the South Park addition
to Butte. They expect to remain severa