OBIT: Selman E. "Sol" ROACH, 1933, Windber, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Public Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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SELMAN E. ROACH

Winber's Celebrated Gunsmith and Sportsman Commits Suicide

Selman E. Roach Began the New Year by Shooting Himself with One of His Favorite 
Weapons - Despondency Due to Wife's Death the Cause

  Selman E. Roach, aged 74, known to hundreds of sportsmen of Pennsylvania as 
"Sol" Roach, committed suicide Sunday morning by shooting himself through the 
head with a high-powered rifle in his gunsmith's shop at the corner of Graham 
Avenue and Eleventh Street, Windber.  Despondency over the death of his wife in 
November, 1931, and ill health are believed to have been the motives for the 
suicide.
  Miss Inez Comerer, 13-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Comerer, 
narrowly escaped death as a result of the suicide.  The bullet which ended 
Roach's life emerged from the top of his head, tore through the ceiling and 
second-story floor and continued out through the roof of the building.  Miss 
Comerer and her parents were seated in the room above the Roach shop at the 
time, the bullet missing Miss Comerer by only a few inches.
  Mr. and Mrs. Comerer, believing that a gun in Roach's shop had been accidently 
discharged,investigated and found Roach's body on the floor.  After an 
investigation by Mrs. Emily Fluck, Somerset County Coroner, it was found that 
Roach had placed the end of the rifle against the roof of his mouth, and the 
bullet tore through the top of the head.
  Roach was known as one of the outstanding hunters and fishermen of 
Pennsylvania.  Much of his time was spent in the woods and along the streams in 
quest of game and fish.  He also served as a guide to scores of well-known 
people who hunted in this vicinity during the last few years.
  Roach was born at Snowshoe, Center County, on May 30, 1858.  He conducted a 
hotel at Morrisdale for several years and later operated a shooting gallery 
along the boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J.
  While located at the seashore Roach made the acquaintance of Buffalo Bill 
Cody.  He and Cody engaged in a number of shooting matches at the seashore.  
Roach located at Windber when the Berwing White Coal Mining Co. founded the town 
and began its extensive operations there and had since made his home in Windber.
  He had conducted his gunshop there since 1899.  He also was a violin maker, 
his instruments being fashioned after the famed Stradivarius violins.  He 
studied the art of violin making for 10 years before manufacturing his first 
one.  He had a collection of about 50 violins at the time of his death.
  Roach bagged a deer last month and had probably killed more deer than any 
other hunter in Pennsylvania.  He also had killed a number of bears, many of 
these kills being made before the State of Pennsylvania adopted its present game 
laws, limiting the kill of deer and bear to one each season.
  Roach followed hunting and trapping many years ago as a business and disposed 
of many pelts of animals.  He had the reputation of being one of the best 
gunsmiths in the State and each year he repaired weapons for many of the leading 
hunters of the State.
  Surviving are these children:  William C. (Roxie) Roach, of Tawas City, Mich., 
a former member of the New York American League baseball club, and who also 
played in the International and Federal Leagues and was at one time manager of 
the Johnstown Independents; Gertrude, wife of W. H. Morgan, of Johnstown; 
Georgianna, wife of H. C. Ferrier, of Salix; Mazie, wife of James Lewis, of 
Philipsburg, and Bernice, wife of John Jarvis, Jr., of St. Clair Shores, Mich.  
Roach's wife passed away on November 13, 1931.  He also leaves 20 grandchildren 
and one great-grandchild.

Meyersdale Republican, January 5, 1933