Campbell County WY Archives Deaths.....Brooke, Horace Ray September 16, 1915 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wy/wyfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Debra Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467 October 12, 2020, 4:17 am Name: Brooke, Horace Ray Date Of Death: September 16, 1915 Time: Morning Place Of Death: Coal Mine at Gillette, WY Residence: Gillette, Campbell, WY Gender: Male Race: W Age: 54 Marital Status: Married Spouse: Brooke, Anna Hughes Date Of Birth: December 31, 1860 Place Of Birth: Newark, Licking, OH Mother's Name: Oxley, Margaret Truman Mother's Birthplace: Fayette County, Pennsylvania Father's Name: Brooke, Thomas Goff Father's Birthplace: Newark, Licking, OH Cause Of Death: Mining Accident Hospital: Unavailable SS Number: Unavailable Occupation: Rail Road Clerk, sales grocery Funeral Home: Episcopal Church Doctor: Dr. Sexton Coroner: Unavailable Informant: Unavailable Date Of Burial: September 18, 1915 Place Of Burial: Mount Pisgah, Gillette, Campbell Co. WY Date Recorded: Unavailable Source Of Record: The Gillette News Fri Sep 17, 1915 H. R. BROOKE, PROMINENT GILLETTE CITIZEN, MEETS INSTANT DEATH A terrible and most deplorable tragedy was enacted yesterday morning at a coal mine near the home of H. R. Brooke, four miles southwest of this city in which Mr. Brooke was almost instantly killed and and Mr. Broadhurst narrowly escaped death. It seems that Charlie Broadhurst, with team and wagon, went to the mine for coal and Mr. Brooke came over to the mine, which is about 80 rods from his home, to assist him in getting his load. The mine is on government land, the people for miles around come there for their coal. The vein, which crops out from under a very steep hill, is some 12 or 15 feet in thickness, over which is a covering of slate, limestone and shale. A small creek runs at the base of the hill and flood waters from heavy rains keeps the slack and refuse well cleaned away. Owing to the fact that the mine is not owned or operated by anyone it has always been neglected and no timbering has ver been done for the protection of those procuring coal from it, with the consequence that the wall of coal, rock, etc., as above noted, kept caving down and on this date it stood some 50 feet in height, almost straight up and down. Here it was that the two men were engaged in digging andloading this coal, when by only a moment's warning by a rumbling sound above they were caught in the awful slide, under which Mr. Brooke was covered by many tons of shale crushing his life out in almost the twinkle of an eye. Mr. Broadhurst was pinned against the front wheel of his wagon with stone and coal, his head and shoulders only being above the debris, the pressure against him and the wagon being so great as to break all the spokes out of the wheel on the opposite side. The writer visited Mr. Broadhurst last night at his home Weak from the shoock and innumerable painful bruises received, he recited the incidents above narrated. He said "It was all done in an instant. In glancing up I saw the break coming. I yelled to Brooke to run and started to run myself but the wagon was in the way and there it caught me. It seemed to me that I was dying--my life was being crushed out. I was caught in an upright position but my legs were crossed and my body was twisted, but my hands were free and in one I still grasped the fork with which I was loading the coal. For a minute I could hear poor Mr. Brooke groan and I knew he was under the mighty load of debris, then all became quiet and I knew he was dead. I tried to hollow [sic], but not a sound would emit from my lips. I realized that I must work and get out, for die, and I went to digging with my hands." And he showed them to me. The skin was worn from the ends of his fingers, and the nails were worn to the quick. "I believe I cold have worn my fingers off to the first joint and never felt it," he said, "but in time I freed myself and oh, what a relief it was. I tried to stand my weight on my feet but I could not, so I crawled to Mr. Brooke's home for aid. I don't know how long it was from the time it happened until I got the word to his family, and while I suffered great pain, oh what a sad mission it was for me, and I can't describe how sorry I am for the family, derived [sic] of that good husband and father." News of the tragedy was telephoned to Gillette and two auto loads of men and tools departed for the scene together with Dr. Sexton. Upon arriving there the family had extricated him but life was extinct, and he had passed beyond all human aid. Mr. Broadhurst is resting quite easy this morning, there is not believed to be any fractured bones and his speedy recovery is anticipated. Thus ends one of those awful accidents which so often occurs, to which no blame can be attached to any living soul. The grief stricken wife and children of the deceased are certainly entitled to the deepest sympathy in this dark hour. The grief is all the harder to bear because of its sudden unexpected character. The deceased was 54 years of age. The funeral services will be held from the Episcopal church in this city tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. Herbert Baker, conducting. Those wishing to view the remains will be given that opportunity before, but not after the services. The obituary and biographical sketch of this good man will appear in our next issue. Additional Comments: See Obituary File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wy/campbell/vitals/deaths/brooke13gdt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wyfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb