The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-08-08
WILSON PIERCE DEAD.
Former County Attorney Pierce
Passes Away at Manila.

IFOImSC VOuuly nllVInCy PIVt ~
Passes Away at Manila.
It was very unpleasant st. Paul
Globe that Mr.. S. L. Pierce, senior
member of the law firm of Pierce &
Harriott of this city, read last Wed
nesday afternoon. Mr.. Pierce was
reading the paper in his Office. In
the adjoining Office Mr.. O. L. Dorm
berg was reading the Pioneer Press.
The latter was reading the casualty
list from the Philippines, and his
eyes fell on the names of deaths
from dysentery. One name struck
Mr.. Dornberg very boldly. It was
that of William L. Pierce. He was
credited as corporal of Co. K, TWEEN
ty-First Infantry Mr.. Dornberg
calmly asked Mr.. Pierce to turn to
the casualty list of the Globe. Mr..
Pierce did so. He recognized the
name at once. It was that of his
son, Wilson L. Pierce. at one time
county attorney of Redwood county.
The first name was slightly wrong.
| The company and regiment was
wrong. But the very next death
reported was that of a member Of
Co. I, Eighteenth Infantry. This
was Wilson company and regi-
ment. It was only an error caused
by cable and telegraph transmission
over several thousand miles. Mr..
Pierce knew it.
There is mental telegraphy-
quicker by far than your slow old
tick Of the telegraph instrument.
We nave all experienced it. It has
communicated to us some sorrow,
some joy, long before it was brought
| to us by the slow medium of a news
paper or the heart throbbing tick
read only by your skilled operator.
Mr.. Pierce experienced it, He had
been waiting for a confirmation Of
his mental message. Two or three
days before he saw it in cold type
he remarked to friend that he be-
lieved Will was dead over in the
Philippines. When the slower, but
official message came before his
eyes, it was what he had expected.
! Then tears-a fathers tears-ex-
pressing a fathers deep grief oyer
the loss of favorite son-the last
known living hope of keeping up
the ancestral line-came. Men s
tears are more expressive than
those of women. They come from
hearts hardened by business cares
and disappointments. Mr.. Pierce
was deeply touched When his
friends heard of his loss they deep
ly sympathized with him.
Nature is fecund in the variety OF
her children. Each mould has some
peculiar, distinctive trait. Heredi-
tary instinct may blossom out from
this or that bulb. But apart from
that instinct, ever. Nature adds.
Wilson L. Pierce stood out promi-
nently as Natures own chifd-a
study for his parents and for the
student of humanity. He was born
36 years ago. The exact date was
Jan. 10, 1864. He birthplace was
Mantoryille, Minnesota. He re-
moved to ST. Paul with his father S
family. There he entered the high
school. Before graduation he joined
company of the Minnesota Nation
al Guards. He became infatuated
with military life, as result. It
was with some difficulty that his
father persuaded him to come into
Ilo OuO eau Id w 1OI u StdSOD.
In the law Office Wilson remained
for two years when the military inn
pulse again became strong upon
him. This, together with desire
to escape from some of his compan-
ions, led to his enlistment in the
Goth United States Infantry. Here
Private Pierce made an excellent
record. In short time he was pro-
NOTED to the highest non commits
stoned rank, that of sergeant.
Life at frontier post offered little
opportunity for the young man s de-
yelopment. Through the influence
of the captain Of his company, young
Pierce ultimately obtained discharge
from the service in order to take a
course of law at the State Uniyer-
sity. AS student be ranked high
~, obtaining special commentator