The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-01-26
Qu66r Death
PROBABLY POISONED
BY EATING CANDY
Or POPCORN.

Fred McKendrick, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. fl. G. McKendriek. of Challis, was
found nearly dead last Fri lay evening,
January 22nd. lying in the snow just
back of L. II. Johnston's law Office, in
Challis During the afternoon the boy
complained of a terrible pain in the
head, and to use the boys expression ::
My brain is tied in knot" This is
what Fred said 10 his youthful com
/ panions that evening at about six
o'clock Previous TO this time he aud
the other small boys that were with
him had been eating colored popcorn
and candy that they had purchased,
but which had 40 bad effect on the
other boys who ate OF the sweets at
I the same time.
Fred. was robust and healthy boy
of between 10 and II years of age and
an exceptionally bright and a very
/ gentlemanly lad. On the day of his
death he had been saving wood, and
was apparently feeling well and in
good spirits. After leaving the drug
store that evening, as above stateI, at
about 6 O'Clock, he complained of = ter
rible pam 10 his head in the region of
his brains. His boy companions gave
no further thought as to Fred's con-
dition, supposing he had gone home, as
he told them. He got as far on his
road home as the rear of Mr.. john
ston's Office when he fell in the snow
never to arise again. No one saw him
fall or heard him moan. He must
have suffered untold agony there alone
fighting for life. No loving mothers
hand was there to rescue the poor boy
in his dying condition. He lay there
struggling between life and death
alone with cold bed of snow for his
couch, with no human hand to help
him and no human eye TO see him-no
ear to hear what caused his death. II
is sad death indeed, and mysterious
as it was sad. II was pitiable sight
to gaze on his psllad and youthful
countenauce. In fancy we can see the
> poor boy lying there with outstretched
hands pleading for his mother to re-
lieve him from his terribly agony, bu;
his pleadiugs were in vain, for the
, parents were at home and knew moth
ing of their sons condition at that
time.
1t was nearly o'clock when the
| boy was found that evening by his
!, father. Although we are told that be
was seen lying there BY one of hii
+, little brothers earlier in the evening
who thought it was some drunker
person When Fred was found by hi
dition, and was beyond help, although
his heart was beating when be wa
found. The boy was tenderiy takeE
home but died in a few moment
thereafter without speaking word
DR.. Huston was called, but said Their
Il was no hope TO save him. The boz
) vomitted up red substance and alsC
= frothed at the mouth. DIR. Huston ex
/ amined the pink or red substance ant
e gave out the information that Fre'
1t McKendriek came to his death b!
# poison. But the Doctor does not know
e nor dues any one else know whether i
was from eating candy, popcorn o
something else. If it was caused b.
eating of caudy or popcorn why wa
it that the half dozen or so of boy
who ate of the same sweets at thi
I same time were not poisoned
II is mysterious case to say th
least and will always be shrouded il
mystery. No such thing as foul pla.
1t is suspected. There are aumerou
= ideas advanced what might have beel
"a the cause of his death, but candy o
'e popcorn poison is most generally be
"a lieved to have been the cause. n
sr post-mortem examination wSs held, a
y the parents objected, but we believ
y for the good of the community aud TO
the safety of the people an autops
a a should have been held to determin
n the cause of the boys death. thus pro
1 tecting our people from poison in tn
lie luxurles that we are all liable to eat.
,e Fred MeKeudrick is in the me- sboT
hood of IA years of age. He was 6or
in Challis, and was well liked by til
people in general The parents an
&c relatives of the deceased have til
sympathy of the community in thei
bereavement.
5 The funeral was held in the 1. o. Q
Of f. hall at Challis on Sunday sfteruoo
r at o'clock, and was largely attended
- The pail bearers were six forms
ar schoolmates. The services we're yer
It. impressive aud touchiug.