Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-01
EL|ASON'S TRAGIC
DEATH IN DETAIL
Letter from His Brother Tells Par
ticuIars Of the PitifuI Affair."
AUSTRALIANS VERY KIND.
Rendered All Assistance While Life
Lasted aud sincerely Mourned
at the Death.

The subjolued letter from Frank r.
Ellason, brother Of Oscar Ellason was
yesterday received by Paul Hammer,
and gives additional particulars Of the
death Of the magIclani
1T is with unspeakable grief that
am compelled to relate a most lament
able accident, an accident that has lost
to US one who was not only loved By
US but was respected by every one, and
has closed career that In q Few years
time would have known no bounds.
II was just week ago today that
oscar, Verge tMrs EliasOn), Reeves,
Jones, the pianist, and Or Tresseder
and myself made up a party 10 hunt
kangaro0s and wallabes. We left our
hotel at Dubbo about noon and drove
out about six miles After unlocking
the horses ana turning them loose we
all went out but returned In few
hours for refreshments.
we again went out IN the evening
and had all again returned and fired
our last shots at some birds In a tree
ahead OF US. when oscar threw UP his
hands and chied, i knew H. / knew
It. j ran to him and caught him as
he was falling down. oscar had been
accidentally shot by Jones. He undld
his clothes himself and we found the
bullet just under the skin In the center
OF the abdomen. The bullet had
entered just behind the hip, from which
blood rushed in torrents.
THE boys Immediately rushed 10
hitch up the horses. Verge noticed the
excitement, came over and found the
wagon and seeing the trouble, nearly
went Wild. She, however, soon Gained
herself and assisted US 20 put oscar
into the wagon. We drove with all
haste into Dubbo When we arrived
In town We summoned the best doctor
10 be had. He extracted the bullet
and thought II would only be flesh
wound
Oscar suffered great pain all night,
but In the early morning the pain be-
came even more terrible, although
morphla was frequently injected. He
could not rest. The local doctors now
feared that Inflammation OF the bowels
had set In and they started prepare
lions for an operation He, however,
seemd TO rally and the operation was
postponed.
",rhe doctor stated that II any en-
trails were cut. as he felt sure was the
case there was the hope that they
would stick to the walls on either side,
nature growing a gelatine film over as
a substitute. II things were in this
condition and an operation were per-
"a IA
ably lot Of harm
Ten o'clock sunday with no i'm
proyement an operation was decided
on. There were three doctors, two
nurses and myself present An OPEN
ing was made just above the groin and
lot Of matter taken out. A huge alb
scess had formed on the entralls and
after carefully examining the track OF
bullet the doctors said there was
no hope.
"Gauze drains were placed through
the abdominal cavity from the wound
and we were advised 10 send TO sgd
ney for DR.. Mccormick, supposed TO
be the best surgeon In Australia
THE special train. due IN six hours.
was delayed on account Of hot boxes.
and did not arrive tin 10 o'clock Mon
day night with DR.. Mccormick.
After examining Oscar, DR.. McCOr-
mick advised to let the operation so
over till morning, as Oscar was feeling
easier. At O'clock he was worse again
and the operation was made Tuesday
morning.
After coming 10 from the operation
he felt much relieved. II was then we
had Oscar make his will. he exclaim-
Ing, You mean TO kill me. don't your
But ] am going to live anyway, The
doctors had given him only few
hours TO live.
After this he lived till o'clock
"Wednesday afternoon. When told there
was no hone OF his recovery. he said.
We'll. that's too bad and would not
believe II, talking TO the very last OF
continuing the tour In a week or 50.
I'VE had the viii drawn up, turning
everything over 10 his wife He said
II was all right and that he knew she
would provide for Ethel, their little
girl. When Verge asked him II he had
anything 10 say, he said; No. but |
think we understand each other per-
fectly, and that is all that Is neces-
sary.' When asked II he desired her
10 go home. Oscar said he would leave
It all TO Verge, but thought we ought
TO continue the show.
Verge was very hysterlcal before
his death and for some time after, con-
stantly requiring watching. She bore
up bravely al the funeral and has done
so since.
Viola Pratt is a constant caller and
Is great comfort 20 Verge.
Oscar made 80 many friends In Aus.
tralia and they are falling all over
themselves TO render any help We have
bushel baskets full Of condolences from
all over Australia. II is said there new
er was a death 50 universally regretted.
II was necessary for an extra carriage
TO carry the floral offerings 20 the
grave. The street was blocked with
people at the funeral AS the hearse
passed, everyone, from the lowest vag-
abond 10 royalty In carriages, respect
fully raised their hats Schools were
drawn no In bodies along the line OF
march TO pay their last respects TO the
beloved Dante
when we left Dubbo with the re-.
mains TO SO TO sydney, every shon in
the town was closed, and IL was nec-
essary Tor us 10 30 out OF the hotel !
the back way 20 avoid the crush AT
w HAHNi'Al ttlN AAhNU WAS ~ great the /
funeral train was DELAYED fifteen min. |
utes IN leaving, and during the whole |
nights ride every station we PASSED |
was crowded TO see the train that was |
taking Dante on his last journey.
Verge does not feel that She can |
come home until affairs are straightcncd
out ! wish | could divert her mind /
from the tragic incident She has eaten /
nothing yet, but Is feeling a trlne more /
cheerful tonight Ethel wept very bit |
terly and felt the shock keenly no FIRST !
Well Paul, ! d0nl know v\lt the 1
foregoing letter Is Ike. but have /
done my best. II Is the hardest piece
OF work ! have ever done. and may cod |
grant that there will never De another
occasion Tor writing another such let.
ter Kindly read the letter 10 father
and tell him that everything science
n "a A..