Hunt Co., TX., Obits - T.H. King ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: Dorman Holub txarchives@mac.com *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter,and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** T.H. King The Greenville Drowning On Wednesday night of last week T.H. King of Greenville, Texas, and two ladies were drowned in a pool on King’s ranch near Greenville. The Dallas News correspondent at Greenville gave the following statement: At an early hour this morning 17 June 1897 the news was brought to the city that T.H. King, cashier of the First National bank, and Miss Kate Austin of this city and Miss Ida Schenck of Sherman had been drowned during the night in a pool on Mr. King’s ranch, six mils northeast of town. The news was brought by Fred Norsworthy, bookkeeper of the bank, who had been with them all the time of the sad occurrence. This was between 12 and 1 o’clock this morning. Help went at once to the pool and Miss Austin was floating on the surface and was brought to the shore. A boat and grappling irons were sent for and by morning the other bodies were brought up. The pool is about 12 feet deep at the place of the drowning. The three bodies reached town about 8 o’clock. Mr. King’s body was embalmed and put in a casket. The funeral will probably be on Saturday, as his brother near Abilene cannot reach here before Friday night. The body of Miss Austin will be sent to Missouri for burial and that of Miss Schenck to her family in Sherman. Fred Norsworthy made a statement for the inquest this morning: Mr. King and Norsworthy rode out last evening to the ranch, and as they got there they met the two young ladies just driving out to come home, they having driven out in Miss Austin’s buggy. Mr. King invited them to return to the ranch and spend the evening, which they did. After a lunch at the house they walked out to the pool, and as the moon came up it was suggested they should bathe. Norsworthy went to the upper end of the pool and put on a bathing suit to try if the water was warm. He swam across and said it was warm, so the ladies retired and put on bathing suits and Mr. King did the same. They went into the water, Mr. King and Miss Austin together in a few minutes he heard Mr. King screaming, "Fred! Fred!" and saw them struggling in the deep water. He told Miss Schenck to stay where she was and started for Mr. King. Before reaching them they sank, As they came up he caught Mr. King by his finger tips, but this hand slipped off, and still calling "Fred! Fred!" they sank for the last time. Norsworthy was overcome and as he stood there Miss Schenck probably dazed by fright, fell on him and pushed him down, when he became unconscious and does not know how she was drowned, but no doubt as he fell she pitched over into the deep water and was drowned. Norsworthy, when he came to himself, got out, and dressing rode to town and gave the alarm. He was in a crazed condition all night under the charge of two men but this morning recovered and gave the above story. Mr. King was the wealthiest man in Greenville, being estimated as worth $1,500,000. He owned large amounts of property in this city, including the beautiful King opera house, and had 400,000 acres of black land near here, on part of which the tragedy occurred, besides ranch and cattle interests in the western part of the state. He was interested in nearly every business enterprise of the town, and has thousands of friends, who will miss him. He leaves a wife [Mrs. Virginia King], a daughter and two sons. [T.H. King was buried in Greenville, Texas with the funeral officiated by Rev. E.H. Casey. For more information see the Greenville Messenger, Friday, 25 June 1897] Taylor County News Abilene, Taylor County, Texas Friday, June 25, 1897 Dorman Holub Graham, TX