Delia D'Ambra

so so

so so

On October 30th, 1898, a 57-year-old man named Nelson Rust was hunting in some woods along the west side of Lake Itasca with one of his friends, William McMullen. The pair had been tracking a bear, though some sources say it was a deer, through the forest and after a while had managed to corner the animal into a thicket.

On October 30th, 1898, a 57-year-old man named Nelson Rust was hunting in some woods along the west side of Lake Itasca with one of his friends, William McMullen. The pair had been tracking a bear, though some sources say it was a deer, through the forest and after a while had managed to corner the animal into a thicket.

William got the idea to approach the creature from a different location in order to startle it and hopefully drive it into the open where Nelson would be waiting to shoot it. This required William to separate from Nelson for a short period of time and sort of go up and around his partner's position, basically putting him a little further ahead of Nelson.

William got the idea to approach the creature from a different location in order to startle it and hopefully drive it into the open where Nelson would be waiting to shoot it. This required William to separate from Nelson for a short period of time and sort of go up and around his partner's position, basically putting him a little further ahead of Nelson.

I read at least one source that said the men were about 50 feet apart. Whatever the exact distance was, when William did his thing, there was a noticeable rustling in the dense cluster of trees the men had trained their attention on. And then something emerged. As soon as Nelson clocked the movement, he aimed his firearm in the direction of the figure and fired.

I read at least one source that said the men were about 50 feet apart. Whatever the exact distance was, when William did his thing, there was a noticeable rustling in the dense cluster of trees the men had trained their attention on. And then something emerged. As soon as Nelson clocked the movement, he aimed his firearm in the direction of the figure and fired.

Unfortunately, he hadn't hit a deer or a bear or any other kind of animal. He'd shot William. Some sources say in the back, piercing him in the heart, killing him instantly. Like, there was no surviving such a catastrophic gunshot. Just boom, and then William was gone.

Unfortunately, he hadn't hit a deer or a bear or any other kind of animal. He'd shot William. Some sources say in the back, piercing him in the heart, killing him instantly. Like, there was no surviving such a catastrophic gunshot. Just boom, and then William was gone.

Initially, his death was viewed as a tragic hunting accident, and the people living in the region didn't really question that conclusion. According to news coverage at the time, Nelson was really upset by the incident, and he said he'd mistaken William's white necktie for the coloring of a deer.

Initially, his death was viewed as a tragic hunting accident, and the people living in the region didn't really question that conclusion. According to news coverage at the time, Nelson was really upset by the incident, and he said he'd mistaken William's white necktie for the coloring of a deer.

Apparently, the two men were close friends, so I imagine he would have been wrecked with guilt over the situation. Following the shooting, William was buried in Pioneer Cemetery in the state park. And that was seemingly the end of the story. I mean, we are talking about the late 19th century here. Life was tough, and death was a common thing.

Apparently, the two men were close friends, so I imagine he would have been wrecked with guilt over the situation. Following the shooting, William was buried in Pioneer Cemetery in the state park. And that was seemingly the end of the story. I mean, we are talking about the late 19th century here. Life was tough, and death was a common thing.

I imagine most people just moved on with their lives because they didn't have time to dwell on something that seemed so cut and dry. A lot of people who'd settled in the Itasca region were homesteaders who farmed or lived on forest land that lumber companies would later purchase.

I imagine most people just moved on with their lives because they didn't have time to dwell on something that seemed so cut and dry. A lot of people who'd settled in the Itasca region were homesteaders who farmed or lived on forest land that lumber companies would later purchase.

There were also a handful of folks who presumably weren't as inclined to roughing it, who had dreams of developing properties along the shorelines of the area's various lakes to one day sell for a lot of money. In 1898, there weren't many roads that led to the Itasca Basin, but if you were lucky enough to find one, it was less of a roadway and more of a well-worn dirt trail.

There were also a handful of folks who presumably weren't as inclined to roughing it, who had dreams of developing properties along the shorelines of the area's various lakes to one day sell for a lot of money. In 1898, there weren't many roads that led to the Itasca Basin, but if you were lucky enough to find one, it was less of a roadway and more of a well-worn dirt trail.

Sometimes it took several days to make a trip just to replenish your supplies. Residents were also reported to have lived under constant threat of forest fires and attacks from neighboring Native American tribes and wild animals. The first person who settled in the area was a man named Peter Turnbull. Peter was Canadian and had worked as a civil engineer and surveyor.

Sometimes it took several days to make a trip just to replenish your supplies. Residents were also reported to have lived under constant threat of forest fires and attacks from neighboring Native American tribes and wild animals. The first person who settled in the area was a man named Peter Turnbull. Peter was Canadian and had worked as a civil engineer and surveyor.