The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-01-01
Sale next Saturday. Bring in Corn, Potat
FRozE TO DEATH.
Alexander Lewis Travelling Piano
Tuner, Freezes to Death near
Kellerton.

keilertOn.
Alexander Lewis, travelling piano
tuner aged 3S, is dead from l6 hours
exposure to the cold and snow as a re-
suit of intoxication, and was buried Sun
day without relative near or friend
present to mourn his tragic end or to
furnish scrap of information as to his
history and family connections.
Lewis was in the employ of Wilson &
Rhodes of Mt. Ayr. The time of his
exposure was Tuesday night of last
week in Decatur county, near KellertoE.
His death resulted Saturday. The fun
eral was held Sunday at Elk chapel in
Bloomington township, Decatur county,
The unfortunate man lay in the snow
and cold from 5 O'Clock Tuesday even
ing to 9 o'clock Wednesday forenoon.
His legs were frozen half way to his
knees, and his ears and nose were frozen
His death however, resulted from pneu.
monia and heart failure.
Lewis in company with Archie Rhodes
the Is year-old son of F. M. Rhodes OF
Mt. AYR, had driven Monday With Mr..
Rhodes team from Mt. Ayr to deliver
an organ to Mr.. Donaldson in Decatur
county. Returning Tuesday afternoon
when about four miles east of Kellerton
they met Thomas McClaran. They
stopped to talk, and before they parted
the men had emptied bottle of alcohol
furnished by McClaran. Soon after
ward Lewis became violent, claiming
they were on the wrong road, and in
spite of the boys protest turned the
team. Young Rhodes jumped out and
walked to Mart Monosmith's where he
stayed all night. At O'Clock next
morning Thomas McClaran going to a
turkey shoot, found Lewis in the road
aud took him. to Monosmith's house.
The team was found, standing az Mr..
Shields barn half a mile east of the
place where Lewis hadl. either fallen or
jumped out.
DR.. Camp was called from Kellerton,
and injected heart stimulant, all that
could be done att that time. In the
afternoon be dressed the frozen limbs.
The next day DR.. Horner, of Lamont
was called, but could not come. DIR. J..
w. Greenman, of Kellerton, was called
Friday, and after examination stated
that tho no tiopt ,uoo MT I;l,ol,, - ~
cover, but that should he recover his
limbs could be saved. Lewis died at Z
O'Clock Saturday morning, pneumonia
having resulted from the chilling he sus.
itained, and his heart being unable to
stand up under the strain. The evening
he lost his way was not severe but at 2
O'Clock the following morning severe
storm with cold wind from the north.
/ west set in, so that Wednesday forenoon
the thermometer stood at 3 degrees
above zero. ~
| Lewis came some weeks ago from
Charlton to Leon, working there for w.
A. Alexander, who later sent him to
Bloskton. At Blockton he boarded at
F. M. Rhodes hotel and when Mr..
Rhodes moved to Mt. Ayr, Lewis came
also TO ask employment as piano tuner
for Wilson & Rhodes. The firm offered
him a job if he would sell instruments as
we'll as tune them. The trip to Decatur
county week ago was his first work fol-
the firm.
Practically nothing is known of Lewis
He said he VASES years of age, and that
he had lost his wife, mother and prop
erty within year. A letter is dated
Sept. 4, 1901, from attorney H. L. Ross,
of Indianol addressed to Lewis at La
coma, Warren county, was found among
his effects, which may indicate that La.
coma was his permanent address. The
letter refers to beginning divorce suit,
but says IF the parties decide to come
up with Them" sol the divorce was eyi.
IDENTIFY not sought by Lewis for himself.
Thefuneral was held at ii a. m. Sun.
day from Elk chapel, conducted by Rey
S. Lemon, the United Brethren minister
at Tuskeego. The text was sit is ap.
pointed unto man once to die, and after
death the judgment" The front seats
usually reserved for the relatives and
friends were vacant. After general re-
marks the minister reach the point O.
drawing the lesson from the particular
circumstances, ''These empty seats
said he, "say more than I can TIL,
speaker was overcome by emotion o
(which every nearer felt the effect, ane
was unable for some time to proceed.
| Burial was made at Elk chapel Gem
etery, a mile south of the church. Th,
trustees of Bloomington township hae
/ provided q handsome casket instead O
the Main style an often frrnishad a