Provided by : Sharon Buethner

MASHED TO A PULP
HENRY SCHULTZE, A LOADER AT NO. 8 SHAFT, KILLED TUESDAY
AFTERNOON BY FALLING ROCK

It Required Over Two Hours to Remove the Heavy Stone off the Body, By the use of Jacks.

      Between three and four o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the news was heralded over the city that a man had been killed in No. 8 mine, and the workmen from the shaft could be seen wending their way homeward in every direction, and people, anxious to know the true details of the event, made their way to the shaft to see and hear all that could be learned of the affair.

      The fatal accident occurred about 2:30 p.m. Henry Schultze and his partner, Louis Arnoldi, had been at work in room No. 1, entry 10 north, and last Thursday, notified Mine Boss Saner that a rock in their room was working , and the same was examined Friday, and a danger notice placed in a conspicuous place, for the men to keep out. The two men did no more work until Tuesday morning, when they were employed to take the rock down, and were cautioned to be careful and keep from under it. The loose rock was about 12 x 20 feet long, and about 1 ½ foot thick, of about three ton weight, being supported by one prop, which allowed it to play. The work of getting the prop from under it and letting it down required judgement and skill to avert danger. They were instructed to place props on either end and then work the center one out, but it seems that the men used their own plans, thinking they could saw the prop off, or bore a hole in the surface and [line not readable due to a fold in the paper] when Arnoldi [five words not readable] to the bottom for the auger to promulgate the blasting, cautioning Mr. Schultze to be careful in his absence.

      Just at this time was when the fatality occurred, and from the general surroundings, it appears that Schultze, anxious to have the work completed, used the saw, weakening the prop until the weight of the huge rock bore down on the slender thread left in the center, as on examination, it showed that the prop had been sawed on all sides, leaving about an inch of solid substance.

      The horrible sight that met the eye of Arnoldi on his return, made his blood run cold, as the rock had fallen and beneath it his partner was encased with only an elbow protruding. The alarm was at once given, and it required the use of jackscrews to extricate the body from the perilous position which served as his death-trap. The body of the poor unfortunate was crushed almost into an unrecognizable mass, with the saw still retained in his hand. The lifeless remains were brought to the top about 5 o'clock and many eager observers present witnessed a horrible spectacle never to be forgotten. The body was then conveyed to his home at the west end of First South street.

      A jury was soon summoned by Deputy Coroner Voight and impaneled at once, then adjourned until the arrival of Coroner Owings at 7 p.m. when they went into session at City Hall, and the findings according to the evidence obtained, was that "deceased came to his death by the falling of a rock, in room 1, entry 10 north, in the Consolidated Coal Co's mine No. 8."

      The deceased had worked in the mine here about a year, being a newcomer in this country. He was 33 years age, and leaves a wife and two small children, whose means are limited, as they were dependent solely upon his wages for support. He was of energetic turn, quiet in manner and honorable in dealing. Our community deplores the ghastly details that caused his untimely death , and offer every condolence to the wife and children that is possible. It is one of the saddest fatalities that has come under the observation of our people in the history of the mining interests, here.

      The funeral obsequies were conducted from Immanual's Lutheran Church Wednesday afternoon, Rev Weisbrodt being in charge, after which the remains were conveyed to their final resting place in the Mt. Olive cemetery.

Provided by : Cheri Rademacher Peschel

      "Just before noon Friday while John Rademacher and Henry Herbeck and son Will, were working the entry in No. 1 mine of the Mt. Olive and Staunton Coal Co., the former was instantly killed and Mr. Herbeck seriously injured while the son escaped without injury. Rademacher and the elder Herbeck were loading and the younger Herbeck was mining. A fall of slate broke Mr. Herbeck's right leg near the ankle and otherwise injured him. Mr. Rademacher started forward towards Mr. Herbeck to help him when a second fall of slate struck him on the head, crushing him to the ground and breaking his neck and a leg, death being instantaneous. The injured Mr. Herbeck was taken to his home while the body of Rademacher was taken to the mine office where a coroner's inquest was held. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The funeral was held on Saturday afternoon , the miner's union attending in a body. Deceased leaves a wife and five small children."

Provided by : Cindy Leonard

Wreck of the I.T.S
       Appalling Disaster That Put The Spark of Life Out of 37 Souls in a Second

Provided by : Marsha L. Ensminger

Celebrates Birthday.
       Rev. J. W. Rice, retired Baptist minister and oldest living resident of Medora, attained his 95th year on October 21. A native of Virginia, he moved to Macoupin county with his parents, the late Judge and Mrs. Thomas B. Rice when he was four years of age. The Rice homestead, which ante dates all buildings now standing in Medora and which is still in a good state of preservation at the southern edge of the village, was built in 1835 before the village of Medora was known. His parents reared a large family of children, three of whom are still living, all occupying the original Rice home at the present time. They are Rev. J. W. Rice, Charles A. Rice and Mrs. Emma Van Horbeke. The latter two were born in the old home, now a landmark of the community.
       Rev. Mr. Rice who is familiarly known in Medora as "Uncle Jack," is in remarkably vigorous health considering his age.

Provided by : Colin Murphy

GANGSTERS MURDER TWO MEN IN AUTO
Frank Hines, Alleged Hijacker, and Smith Tucker Slain
Wilsonville, Ill., March 31 --