A Brutal Hazing at the High School
A young boy narrowly escapes death after being trapped in an outhouse by older students.
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.
Almost a tragedy occurred in an outbuilding of the high school Tuesday afternoon. A small boy named Kennedy, about five years old, was waylaid at that hour by larger boys and thrust down an opening in the outhouse where it was impossible for him to either raise his arms or free himself. He hung in this perilous and painful position for some time, his cries for help finally attracting attention from school children and Janitor Henry Miller of the courthouse. A school friend rescued the little boy when he was almost at the point of death from the agony suffered. The boy had many cruel marks upon his arms and body. Two expelled pupils from the high school are suspected, and an investigation by Superintendent Ransom is underway.
“The little boy was almost dead when discovered and has many cruel marks upon his arms and body.”
This incident of horrific schoolyard violence serves as a stark reminder of the realities of childhood bullying in the early 20th century, a precursor to modern dialogues on student safety and school accountability.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.