A Sudden Death in the Cedar Woods

On Sunday last, James Dorsey, with his son Charles and W. D. Inloch, a well-known surveyor, left this city for the headwaters of Black Creek, where Mr. Dorsey owns some railroad land. They went out in a buggy. They did little on Monday, as it rained, but on Tuesday they enlisted the services of Ed Webster and Charles Brown. Reaching near there, they left the horses and commenced their survey. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon, they had hardly reached the point of beginning. Dorsey said that Inloch was acting strangely, as he stood by the instruments. As he approached, the surveyor said, 'Dorsey, do you see those three men sitting there on that log?' It was clear at once that the man's mind was affected, and Dorsey humored him. He decided, however, that they should be getting out of the woods, as they were some distance from any habitation. He told Inloch that they had to start forward. 'Very well,' said the latter, 'carry the instrument. I am tired.' Dorsey took up the transit and started away, but Inloch called a halt before they had gone many feet. 'I am too tired,' he said, 'and want to rest. I must lie down.' Dorsey called to his companions, and they laid the man down on his back. He said he was not resting well that way and they turned him over on his face. The man clutched at the brush and leaves, a queer spasm passed through his frame and when they turned him over he was dead. The little party was struck to speechlessness by the awful suddenness of the occurrence. They realized it would be impossible to carry the body through the brush and Dorsey was left to guard it while the others went for assistance. When they returned, the body was carried to a point where a wagon had been brought and thence driven to the home of Mr. Ed Webster. There it was sewed in a blanket and fastened to a plank as a stretcher, and in that shape brought to town yesterday.