OBIT: Clarence OTTO, 1878, Altoona, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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A CHILD STRANGLED.
The Son of William Otto Choked to Death Under a Hydrant.

Yesterday about 12:40 P.M. citizens of the East Side were considerably 
excited by the news of the death of Clarence - about three years of age 
- the only son of William Otto, a laborer in the lower lumber yard, who 
resides at No. 704 Seventh avenue, which was caused in the following 
very peculiar manner:  Clarence had been assisting his mother in his 
childish way to move some carpets, and after finishing the little work 
he could do he went to the cellar, where a hydrant is situated in the 
front, and in attempting to take a drink therefrom he placed his mouth 
over the nozzle and turned on the water with such force that it 
completely strangled him, his teeth closing tightly over the nozzle of 
the hydrant. At this moment his mother appeared at the rear entrance, 
and on hearing the noise she rushed to the hydrant and found her son 
clinched fast to the pipe. She immediately turned off the water, and 
she found that the boy was not loose, and in her attempt to get him 
from the hydrant nearly all of his teeth were torn out. In her agony 
she picked the child up and carried him to the front of the house. By 
this time friends who had heard her screams appeared, and Dr. Goodman 
was immediately sent for, but arrived only to verify the supposition 
that life was extinct. A message was then dispatched to the car shops 
to inform the father of the sad accident. The mother was almost wild 
with despair at her loss, as the boy was a very bright little fellow. 
The funeral will take place from the parents' residence at 4 o'clock 
this afternoon.

Altoona Tribune, August 8, 1878, p. 2, col. 5