Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Barton, Charles and Melvin Smith, 1925
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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SMITH, BARTON
SMITH, CHARLES
SMITH, MELVIN
(6 Mar 1925, Friday, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
THREE BROTHERS BURIED IN SAND CAVE NEAR FOSS
Buried alive by the caving of a sand bank in which they had attempted to
emulate Floyd Collins, the bodies of Charles, Melvin and Barton Smith were
found Monday by searchers, in their cave seven miles northeast of Foss.  A
bedraggled dog, the only witness of the tragedy, came home Sunday
afternoon and pawed at the door, starting a search that lasted nearly
twenty-four hours.
The leg of Barton, 11 years old, was found protruding from the sand. 
Charles, 14 years old, and Melvin, 16 years old, were buried completely. 
Nearby was a small package of food, and tools for digging.
The brothers were buried Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, side by side in
one casket in the Stafford cemetery (Custer County).  Funeral services
conducted from the Stafford church.
The searching party of Foss residents which discovered the burial place
removed approximately three tons of sand from the bodies.  Little finger
marks on more firm earth showed where the brothers were digging, hollowing
out a shelf in the cave.
They left home at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon to go and play at a
neighbor's according to Tom Smith, the father.  At 4 o'clock the dog
returned home, whined and pawed at the door until he was admitted.  Sand
was on his paws.  He whined to get out, and walked back and forth.
The family became nervous.  A searching party was organized, which combed
the country after the boys did not return by nightfall.  They were
smothered to death when a small avalanche of sand tore down, blinding them
and outweighing their attempts to escape, it is said.
The sand bank long has been a resort for the juveniles of Foss.  "Huck
Finn" caves have honeycombed it in the past.  The boys had often talked of
exploring a cave like Floyd Collins.
A warning against the sand bank has been issued by city officials.
F. R. Murphy of Elk City was in charge of arrangements.

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