The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1902-11-14

NV !. SSs
BOY,sHoT DEAD.
Msnday for,noon, about ton -thirty;
Ch1,s sorem aged sixteen years
wa accidsntly shot and died im>
msdiately. He WA in a boat on Lake
Okabena with two other boys when
the accident occurred.
Saturday, Irwin Conner aged
thirteen and Walter Conner aged
fifteen, sons Of e. A. Conner living
about two miles south Of Rushmore
came to Worthington to visit old
friends, Chris, Sam and Lotus Sorem,
and during the afternoon rented a
shot gun of Widman and Sons rifle
and shot gun of sahlbom Hardware
company and went hunting and
also went hunting Sunday after.
noon. Monday morning the Conner
boys went down town intending to
go home but before they left were
met by Chris. The boys got the gun
sat Simoni's where they bad left
them, and started hunting again.
Thew walked around the lake to a
point opposite the Chatter farm
where a boat was found. The
boys entered the boat to 60 out and
get a duck that had been shot Sun
day aud shoot others if they could.
The two Conner boys were in the
stern and sorem in the bow. back to
back,all pushing with sticks, with
barrel ofgdn leaning on q scat in
the middle Of the boat, Darrell up.
The Conner boys heard the gun dis
charged and on turning around saw
Chris sink down as though setting
ovn, his head going ,:outside and
hanging over. the edge Of the boat.
Irwin took of his Shoes and jumped
into the water and pulled the boat
to shore. The boys then lifted the
body out of the boat and laid it4.on
tho shore, Walter coming to- town
Informed Mr.. 6oren, Irwin followed
and told ]. D. Huminston and John
shanahap: The officers we're CON-
municated with and Newton Fauskee
=. Shaaahan, J.. D: Huminsten and
Sheriff Better at once drove out.
Mr., sorem was looking for the
boy along the lake, be was taken
with them, They found the body
cold, IS the ooys had left it. Coroner
Manson being abee Mt they were in
struoed by coroner County Attorney
Cradal to bring the body to the
parents house. The shot entered
the breast near he heart. The boys
state the Clothing commenced to
burn and they put the fire out.
They saw the blood running from
the wound and at once knew Chris
was shot. He never uttered word
or sound after the gun was discharg'
ed indicating that he died almost
instantly. The gun being in the
same position as when when the
Conner boys saw ii before the shot
it Is supposed he attempted to pull
the gun up by the barrel the hammer
catching on the seat. discharged it.
W hi1e the boys were badly fright
ened they retained presence Of
mind enough to do all that was
possible for them to do.
The parents of the boy were
terribly shocked TO learn Of the
accident: They supposed he was
at school as when he left he told
his mother that he had some
examples he wanted to do.
He went to school with his
brother Sam and as they reached
the building the last bell was ring
ing he told Sam he was going hunt
ing and wanted him to go along
but he declined. He left the school
ground and went down town where
he met the Conner boys. The Conner
boys say positively that it was not
pre-arranged to go hunting, as they
fully expected to go home until
Chris met them.
The parents, Lars Sorem recently
moved here from Ransom and now
reside..at 1928 Sd ave. Themselves,
sons and daughters are almost
Frustrated over the accident. They
have the heartfelt sympathy Of the
entire village in their hour Of