The Loneliness of the South End Chicken Rancher
Neighbors discover Johann Neugerg, a solitary 66-year-old rancher, dead in his shack after days of silence.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Johann Neugerg, 66 years of age, a chicken rancher living in a shack in the school section near the corner of South 45th Street and Pacific Avenue, was found dead in his chair last night by two of his neighbors, Gus Schoch and Mr. Bell. Death is supposed to have been caused by heart failure, as he was known to have been a sufferer from that disease for several years. As there had been no smoke seen coming from the chimney of the shack since Friday, the suspicions of Mr. Schoch were aroused, and he, in company with Mr. Bell, concluded to investigate. Neugerg was found sitting in a chair by the stove, with his head resting on his knees. It was thought at first that the man was only sleeping, but further examination showed that he had been dead two days or more. After becoming convinced that the man was dead, they notified the police and coroner, and the remains were removed to Mellinger's undertaking rooms. The coroner investigated the case and found that death resulted from natural causes. An attempt will be made to find his son or other relatives, who live in Wisconsin. Until word can be received from them, the remains will be held by the undertaker. Besides the ranch, Neugerg owned several hundred chickens and a home-made wagon.
“As there had been no smoke seen coming from the chimney of the shack since Friday, the suspicions of Mr. Schoch were aroused.”
The intersection of South 45th and Pacific Avenue is a busy hub in Tacoma today, a far cry from the rural 'school section' where Neugerg kept his chickens. His death reflects the quiet, isolated struggles that often went unnoticed in the city’s early suburban development.
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