The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1907-01-11
A HUNTERS lone Death
Constant Atwater Perishes in
Spirit Valley.
Exhausted: COroner's Verdict
Remains Found Sunday-May be
Shipped East.

water, a farmer residing 10 Spirit
valley, were found within a third OF
a mile OF his home early last Sunday
morning, by Swedish neiuhhor,
Charles Nelson. The latter was
bringing the mail from the postOtfice
and appears to have been SO startled
that he at once retraced his steps aRd
notified some Of the other neighhOrs
of his discovery In company with
j, II. Wright and w. G Bangs he
returned later and covering the body
where it lay frozen in the snow. they
broke the sad tidings to Mrs. At
water and then set about to inform
the coroner
On Monday morning Justice A. w
Post of Rathdrum was empowered as
acting coroner and with the coroner's
jury empaneled consisting of q. Il.
Klopf, Deputy Sheriff A. A. Merritt.
W. Fl. Cleland. Earl Brock and Chas.
Nelson, Immediately left for the
scene. After considering the circum.
stances surrounding the case the jury
reached practically the conclusion
that Mr.. Atwater had come to his
death by exhaustion.
From Mrs. Atwater it was learned
| that Mr.. Atwater left the house
Saturday morning after light break.
fast, armed with his 30:40 Winchester
rife, and started into the woods
where deer commonly abound. lie
! took no lunch with him The coron-
er's jury took pains u investigate The
whereabouts OF the hunter after he
| left his house. Neighbors found two
| deer which he had slain and it was
, evident that Mr. Atwater had taken
! one of the deers' hearts when be
started home, presumably late Satur-
day evening or night. On the way
he stopped at cabin where stove
.and wood were available, evidently
with the intention of getting meal
and resting But IL is apparent that
there were no matches in the cabin
and none was found on the person oil
The deceased. Worn out with hunger
and fatigue from wading through tht
teep snow he ate portion Of thu
neart raw, and being without frt
eft The cabin and resumed his wa
homeward, now about a mile distant
The trail shows that he was in al
extreme state Of exhaustion. Fl,
staggered along uncertainty. frequent
| Iy sinking down, marks IN the snow
showing he had used his gun as ;
support, and these marks becam
more and more frequent as he neare,
his home, hut before reaching tn
threshold he sank down for the las
time and perished, probably som
time 10 the night. Mrs. Atwate
SAID she heard what sounded like tw
gun shots but upon going outside tn
, house to listen could hear noLhin
save the cracking OF the trees wit
the frost.
On the person of the deceased wer
found seven cartridge shells, while II
I
the magazine Of the rifle were thre
cartridges. The face was some 1ha
scratched and bloody apparently froI
contact with brush aud trees.
The remains were brought to Ratf
Z drum, Monday evening and placed !
, Klopf's undertaking parlors. A brt
ther of the deceased. residing in Kar
sas, was communicated with an
authorized the shipment Of the r.
mains to Kansas for burial. Detail
: regarding this have not been dete
mined yet, however.
Mr.. AtwaLer was regarded wit
y respect by his neighbors He ha
:. held his homestead in Spirit vall'
/ for about seven years, leaving it
J. times 10 engage in work elsewher
! He recently made tinal proof. He
q survived by his wife and daughte
'r years old.