William Shields of Hamilton, a former Astorian, died a few days ago, his death being very mysterious.
In giving an account of his death The Hamilton Press says in part: “Mr. Shields took his team and axe and repaired to the Applegate place south of town to chop wood for himself.
“About noon he staggered into the home of Roy Morrison, bleeding at the nose and mouth, in a dazed condition and complaining of being cold.
“Mrs. Morrison was alone at the time and though Mr. Shields was a stranger to her, she did what she could to make him comfortable. She then called a neighbor, who responded and recognized Mr. Shields. At this time Shields recovered his mental poise sufficiently to say; ‘look after my team’ and lapsed into a state of coma, from which he never recovered.
“He was taken home that evening and a physician summoned and everything done that could be done for the unfortunate man, but without avail. He passed away the following morning never having regained consciousness and the story of the cause of his injury remains a mystery.
“It is that that Mr. Shields may have been loading the poles on his wagon and had gotten one partially loaded, when in some manner it swung back and struck him on the right cheek bone with such force as to break the bone of the skull.
“A second theory is that having partially loaded his wagon on the far side of a hollow, he had started to pull the load across the hollow to finish loading, when he received the blow on the cheek, either by being thrown from the load or by being struck by a log that had been jolted off as the wagon crossed the hollow.
“Mr. Shields was born near Astoria and came to this county about six years ago. He was united in marriage to Miss Julia Fawcett, two children were born to them, one, Mrs. R. Streeter of Elko., Nebr., survives. Losing his wife he was married to Miss Margaret Turner, May 22, 1881 near Astoria. Five children were born to them, four of whom are dead.”
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus