The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-05
DROPS DEAD IN YARD
Unknown CoIored Man Dies
While at Work
STRANGER IN WICHITA
Heart Disease Supposed TO
Have Been the Cause.

Yesterday evening just few minutes
before O'Clock an unknown colored man
dropped dead in the yard Of FL Lawrence,
! On Pennsylvania. avenue. where he had
been working during the day. The man
was seen 70 fan to the ground and throw
1 his arms wildly. but when persons reach
ed him, ne was beyond all aid
II is supposed thar the mans death was
due 70 heart disease, as he was strong
physically and appeared to be wen. TIE
coroner and sheriff were notified and IN
short time appeared On the scene. The
remains were ordered taken 10 Mueller 3
undertaking establishment on North Nam
street and thls morning an inquest viii
be held. 20 try and determine the cause
Of the mans death
It was impossible to find anyone last
night 70 identify the eol3red man.
Many Of the colored citizens Of Wichi q
viewed the remains but none were ab.e
10 give the man name. a few had ZeL
him during the past Is wdays, ana had
talked with him, bur outside OF thar il
was impossible to determine who he was
Some time Saturday morning the man
APPEARED at LaTrence's door and askei
for something TO eat. stating that he was
out Of work and a stranger in the city.
He was given some food. which he ate in
the yard, and after finishing his repast
he talked about cleaning up the yard and
digging cut some stumps in front Of the
house. He said to the people at the
house: Il viii come back tomorrow and
clean I'D the yard for you and dig Sut
those stumps." Il was then stated that
this would not do. owing to the fact that
the following day would be Sunday. He
remarked then that it did not make any
difference 20 aim. as he was a Seventh
Day Adventist u was finally agreed
upon that ne was to come back 10 the
house Monday morning and begin work
in the yard. Nothing much was thought
about it by the family. but early yest=r-
day morning the colored man appeared. /
ready for work. He worked willingly and
hard all morning around the yard. and
just before the noon hour Mr. Lawrence /
gave MIN 30 cents 20 purchase his din
ner and supper with as he had no I
money. After the dinner hour the man I
went 70 work again and Iabored hard all I
afternoon. The members Of the family /
ala not pay very much attention TO him.
but It was noticed that he was working
steadily along. Towards evening he used
An axe on the stumDs in the yard and
then worked again in digging m out
lst before 6 o'clock a neighb0r. glancing
1ut Of the window, saw the coIored man
.aH and stated TO someone IN the h5u-e
hat he had fallen suddenly Several per-
IONS rushed Immediately 10 him. thinking
hat perhaps he vas III and that thy
.ould help Eim, but it was too late. He
RED TO say something to them. but he
Xpired IN the Cttempt He was raised
lp and his clothing opened. hut the heart
-cuon had ceased and it vas impossiba
% do anything for him.
The man was dressed in the usual
7orkaday sty.e-blue overaus Jumper
nd heavy shoes. lie had on e YES and
he coat he had worn during the day was
n old grey one After The coroner ar
wed ne searched the clothing but failed
hnd any papers. Sixteen cents and a
nife were found IN enc pocket. and
bible, worn and faded in another. A
anne was written IN ink on the ifs lear
tae Bible. This name was that OF
'ertha Cox Wilson, Kan. Nav Z. 1ss5
'ertha Cox is supposed to De a young
olored woman In Oklahoma City :
Two colored men from Oklahoma CITY
te~ed the remains and stated that the {
ian had worked IN a cotton press at
S.ahoma City for a few days but that 7
hey did not know his name Or where he
al neen since that time Other than
his It was impossible to learn anything I
bout the man-his name or history. and
seems that he must have been q total
ranger hera
TIE colored man must have been very {
range He was large. wen formed ana
appearance must have been a very in G
liigent man When it was known that &
man had fallen dead. 1t was first sp
7sed that il was coI0red resident 81 g
rs city. The man does resemble tbs 1
'ichita citizen. but aside from that fact :
lere IS nothing 10 indicate that ne has 3
sided here. Just what win be dora
I'M the remains after the inquest IS not 3
l7wn- L may BE- possible thar the mans o
lme viii be learned today, also the
hereabouts of his relatives
lp % late hour last night many col- Z
e3 people had viewed tha remains. buf g
was impossible 70 identify hin.