Freer, Claude – Died 1900

FREER, HOYT, HARGREAVES

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:38

Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 8, 1901 P 1 C 7

Killed in the Philippines.
Last Sunday’s Chicago Tribune contains an article and portrait telling of the death of Claude Freer, a grandson of Mrs. James Hargreaves, of West Decorah. The young man enlisted in the 13th Minnesota Volunteers in 1898 and was serving In the Philippines. His mother, Mrs. J. Q. Hoyt, lived at Evanston, Ill., and she heard from him regularly until the latter part of last year. Continued failure to hear from him after that time caused the fear that he was dead and this was confirmed but a few days ago through the war department at Washington. Mr. Freer had gone out with others to forage for a Thanksgiving day dinner. He was ambushed and killed by bolo men and when his body was found something over $1600 which he was known to have and a fine gold watch were missing from his clothing. The details of his death were secured in a peculiar manner. Mr. Hoyt, in passing a soldier on the streets in Chicago last Saturday, recognized the letters of his step-son's regiment on the soldier’s cap. He stopped the man and asked him if he had known Claude Freer. The man proved to be Sergeant Benjamin Moores of Company F, and he gave the details, as far as they ever will be known, of the death of Freer.