Nueces Co., TX - Obituary: Sam Shoemaker ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Don Brownlee 11 September 2005 USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** 21 July 1899 Dallas (TX) Morning News, p. 1 Corpus Christi, Tex., Julu 20 - The entire city mourns the deplorable death of Sam Shoemaker, chief of the Corpus Christi fire department, and a young man well-known in all the colunteer fire departments of Texas. His death was occasioned by the following circumstances: This morning Policeman Mifflin Hawley was passing Shoemaker's blacksmith shop. He had on a large straw hat. Sam and Hawley being the best of friends, the former made some jocular remarks about the hat, and in play picked up a hammer and started toward Hawley as if he were going to smash the hat down. Hawley jumped back, when Sam caught him around the waist and a friendly scuffle ensued. During the scuffling Hawley's revolver accidentally went off, the ball striking young Shoemaker in the left side below the ribs and ranged around toward the back. It broke the backbone and severed the spinal artery. Immediately after the discharge of the weapon, the unfortunate young man sank to the ground gasping for breath. His shirt was on fire, but was quickly extinguished. As he was picked up by his father and several friends, he remarked: "Miff, I believe I am killed. Papa, it was an accident." He was carried to his home and medical aid summoned, but he died soon after. Policeman Hawley made the following statement to The News correspondent: "I was passing Shoemaker's shop this morning and wnen Sam Shoemaker saw me he made some joking remark about a large straw hat I was wearing and rushed at me with a hammer as if he was going to smash the hat in. I jumped back, when Sam ran up to me and caught me around the waist. I had my pistol in my hind pocket. "During the scuffle the pistol was accidentally discharged and Sam shot. The weapon was a 41-caliber, single-action revolver. I was very sorry, indeed, at the unfortunate accident. Sam Shoemaker and I had always been and were the best of friends."