The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-11-19
GAME fa866FfHE LAST,
OSCAR NELSON DIES;
WRITES GOOD BYES
AS DEATH H0VERS

out" last night when Oscar Nelson
died at 1920 O'Clock in St. An
thongs hospital, the result of three
bullet wounds inflicted by Roland
Henrionnet Thursday forenoon.
Given two and one-half hours to live
by DR.. Gilmore, earlier in the eve
ming, the young bank teller received
the mandate with cheerfulness and
fortitude that was astounding. He
overstayed the time limit set by the
attending physician by 20 minutes.
w Writes Good Byes.
| When the verdict OF the veteran
physician was pronounced, the
wounded young man asked for his
watch which he placed where he
could easily see it. He called for a
tablet and, held in the hands of his
devoted mother, with light held by
a white robed nurse, the young man
with the two and one-half hours yet
to live wrote notes Of farewell and
encouragement to his former play
mates in school and his friends in
his home town Of Erskine. To all
ebbing and he timed his span in
writing by frequent glances at his
watch.
/ ASkS oduQ W 11dY.
| No one had been allowed to enter
the room during his sufferings,
fearing the strain and excitement.
His father and two brothers, called
here by the affair, had gone home,
one to Gully and others to Erskinc,
intending to return today. They
return could not be had until
| n ~ {vr
gret uttered by the dying man was
that he would be unable to see them.
To the Bemidji band, of which
Mr.. Nelson was a member, he wrote
note asking that they play for.
his funeral at Erskine, saying he
would defray all expenses. He also
asked that the Masons have charge
Of his funeral.
As bs soq% Sa5ESS Ryf fS Eimssif sn2ifr'Sr %rittng
figure stood in the door. 1t was
w. l.. Brooks, cashier of the North
ern National bank, where Mr.. Mel
son was employed. In response to
call Of the dying boy Mr.. Brooks
approached the bedside, and where
the bank employe informed his SUI
periOr that time was fleeting and
that he wanted to thank him for all
he had done for him and to express
his appreciation. He also asked Mr..
Brooks to say good bye for him to
A. p. White, president of the bank,
and to all his fellow workers.
i Watch Ticks Fateful Hour.
, The second hand Of the watch
continued to encircle it's tiny dial
and the minutes clicked off toward
the fatal hour. The dying man con-
tinued to write and in steady
hand. The electric bulb shone fit
fully over the white paper steadily
held in the hands of the mother. The
two and one-half hours drew near
and passed. The minutes sped on
and reached to near twenty.
The hand that held the pencil
faltered. "1'm going, mother"
and his arms stretched upward. The
mother leaned closer, their lips met
and the son sank back with a smile,
a deep sigh followed and it was over.
prief Life Sketch.
Oscar Nelson was born In ErSklne,
Mimi, and would have been rs years
old his next birthday anniversary.
For the past seven years he had
been employed by the Northern Ma
tional bank in Bemidji. His par
!
the father being a retired merchant.
Two brothers, Anton and Theodore,
are residents of Erskine, Anton be-
ing cashier of a bank Another bro
ther, O. T. Nelson, is a hardware
merchant at Gully. Another brother
died about six years ago from ty-
phoid fever
| In Bemidji, Oscar was we'll known
and held in high esteem by the busi-
ness men and he was prominent in
the social set Of Bemidjis young
people, He was a member of the
Bemidji lodge of MasOns and Elks.
He was also member of the Be-
midji band.
Funeral Services Tomorrow.
The funeral services will be held
tomorrow afternoon in accordance
with the arrangements made by the
dying man a short time before his
death. In the afternoon he sent for
Rev. L. p. Warford, pastor of the
Presbyterian church. The parents of
Oscar are Lutherans and their son
asked for communion which was ad-
ministered. He then asked that the
services be held in the Presbyterian
church with the Masons in charge
and the band. He requested also
that the band accompany him to Err
skine and the band will make the
trip. The Masonic lodge of Bemldji
will also be we'll represented at En-
skine and the Masons there will have
charge of the last rites.
The services at the Presbyterian
church will be held at 1880 O'Clock.
The band and Masons will accom-
pany the remains and the Elks lodge