The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-07-07

st. Paul, July 3.-Anton Schaefer
fifty-seven years old, former state
bank examiner, prominent insurance
man and pioneer travelling man and
Turner. dropped dead at $3.50 O'Clock
Saturday night while holding team
of horses, the wild runaway of which
he had stopped a few minutes be.
fore, in front of the Willard hotel
Tenth and st. Peter streets.
Mr.. Schaefer was sitting in front
of the hotel, where he had been max.
ing his home for the past year, when
the runaway horses, driverless, and
pulling a wagon of Haas Bros, meat
dealers, appeared on the street.
Schaefer ran into the middle of the
street, and, throwing himself against
them, stopped the horses. He then
led them for some distance, and held
them by the bride, waiting for the
driver.
A few seconds later he suddenly
feE backward, and when picked up
was dead.
1t is believed death was due to
heart failure, caused by the excite
ment he experienced when stopping
the runaway. 1t was also thought
he might have been struck on the
head or in the side when throwing
himself against the team.
The body was taken to the under
taking rooms of William Dampier, 313
Wabasha street No funeral arrange
ments will be made until the return
of Mrs. Schaefer and daughter, who
are in New York city.
Was Public Examiner.
Anton Schaefer was widely known
throughout the state for many years
through his connection with the U. c.
T. and his political activities, but he
never held office until he was ap-
pointed public examiner by Governor
Johnson when P. M. Kerst resigned
in January, 1907. During his four
years in that office Schaefer figured
prominently in many of the big po-
litical events. AS public examiner
he made many reports on state Off
GERS and state institutions which
aroused a great deal of publicity.
One of the most famous of these
was the controversy with the state
board of control. Schaefer and his
deputies criticised the methods used
by the board of control in buying coal
and other supplies, especially the
secret rebates which had been Sc
cured by the board. Although the
rebates had been turned into the
state treasury, they had come in the
form of checks to members of the
board and the transactions had been
secret. Following the report, the
1909 legislature made lengthy in
vestigation, in which the house, by
a party vote, decided that Schaefer
had exceeded his authority in COM
menting on the matter. Later on,
however, legislation was passed pro-
hibiting the methods which Schaefer
had criticised and thus indicating
him.
Examined Agricultural Society Books.
Mr.. Schaefer figured prominently
in the contests within the State Agri-
cultural society during the past two
years and for the first time his de-
partment examined the books and
reported alleged irregularities. He
also made the investigation of the
state oil department, which resulted
in the recovery to the state of sew
eral thousand dollars which had
been retained by two former oil in
spectors under the belief, they said,
that they were entitled to the fees.
Other reports which caused wide at
tention were the investigations of
the state auditors office and the
trip of DR.. Bracken to Europe
Anton Schaefer was born in New /
York, November %, 1854. His par
ents located in st. Paul in 1857
where he obtained his education in
the public schools. He began his |
business career as commercial /
traveller in the shoe and leather
line. He was a prominent member
and at one time one of the officers of |
the United Commercial Travellers. He |