The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-12
WAS FROZEN TO DEATH
Mrs. Rumble Found Dead at Her
Own Door.
SHE MUST HAVE FALLEN
1t Is Supposed That She Was Rendered
Unconscious and Frozs to Death
Before She Had Rsgained
Her Senses.

samuel Runule, miner, living OppO-
site the Matte mine, just north of Mead
erville, met with the shocking surprise
upon returning from work yesterday
morning, of finding his wife lying dead
in the snow, having frozen to death at
the very threshold of her home. The
cause of the singular death is consider
able of a mystery as all that is known
is that she was found dead dressed in a
manner to indicate she had gone out
of the house on some GRAND or to visit
nearby neighbor, and from her con-
diton when found, it is supposed she
slipped and fell off the porch, striking
her head so Violently on the ground
that she was rendered unconscious and
froze to death before her senses re-
turned.
Mr.. Rumble is employed at the mine
known as the Pennsylvania tunnel,
north of Meaderville. At present he
he is working on the night shift He
told Coroner Julien, When that official
investigated the DEATH that while work.
ing this shift, he went to work at 6
o'clock in the evening. Friday evening.
as was his custom before going to work,
he got in the fuel for the night and
left everything SO that his wife would
not have to go out of doors for any
thing. He left home about o'clock,
leaving his wife in her usual health,
AS usual, he returned home from his
work at 4:30 in the morning. 1t was
Mrs. Rundle's custom to be up when
he came home to get him a cup of cof-
fee, but yesterday as he approached
his house he noticed the unusual cir
cumstance of the home being dark. His
dogs mot him nd WI
and barked as they were never wont
to do. 1t all seemed strange and he
could not account for the singular cir
stances. 1t was quite dark and he did
not discover the truth till he stepped
up to the front door of his dwelling and
tried it. The door was locked and he
stepped back, wondering what was the
matter. In cropping about he was hor-
rified to find his wife lying face down
in the snow. 1t took but an instant to
discover his wife was dead, and Run
die set up a wall of despair which was
heard by the neighbors, three of whom
came to see what was the trouble. Up
on their arrival Rumble went around to
the rear door and climbed over the tran
som and unlocked the house. The
friends carried the body inside.
From the fact that the body was fully
dressed, except for head covering, and
that rubbers were on the feet, together
with the fact that the doors were lock-
ed, it was supposed Mrs Rumble left
the house to call on neighbor and from
a deep, red spot found on one side of
the face, it seemed evident she had Slip
ped and fallen off the porch and had
struck her face on the hard ground with
such force that she became unconscious
and froze to death.
Coroner Julien was notified and an
inquest was held at Richards under
taking rooms. whittier the body was re-
moved in the afternoon. The bereaved
husband related the foregoing state
ment of the case, adding only, that his
Wife, as is customary with women of
her nationality, was accustomed to TAX
ing stimulants when she felt the need
of them, and at times the liquor had
more of an effect on her than an ordin-
airy person, for the reason that she had
once had influenza, as a result of which
she frequently had dizzy spells, and he
thought she must have been overtaken
by one of these. which probably caused
her to slip and fall.
James Coutts of Meaderville, who
lives about 200 yards from the Rumble
residence, said he came home from
work about 3 o'clock, and hearing an
sound went out to investigate
He met Mr.. Jenkins and they went to
Rundle's house. The body was living
in the snow near the house. Another
man named Mitchell had preceded witt
ness. and these three carried the body
into the house. The porch was narrow
at. one place and witness thought it
highly probable Mrs. Rumble had Slip
ped struck her head on the steps and
falling face down in the snow, must
have smothered.
Thomas TaD;ips anothar re
the Rundles, said when he came off
shift, he heard Rumble moaning and
crying. He went up and inquired what
was the trouble and Rumble said his
Wife was dead At this time the dead
woman was in a sitting position, hav-
ing been raised up and propped against
a ladder lying by the porch. Witness
helped carry the body in the house. He
saw no bruise or injury on the body,
except one mark on the face.
Charles Allen, also a neighbor. heard
Of the death of Mrs. Rumble and went
to the residence. He knew nothing of
the case except what he saw of the
spot where the body was found It
seemed quite evident she had fallen,
and striking on the ground had been
rendered unconscious. Mrs. Runale
visited at witness home,
and there would have been nothing I'M
usual about her coming as late as
. clock.
The Jury returned a verdict reciting
the facts and found death to have been
due to exposure.
Mrs. Rumble was Al years Of age, Fri
lay having been her birthday. She was
1 native of England and had resided in
Butte several years. The family had no
children.