Stanley Keck-Crushed to Death 1916

KECK, KREFT, ROGGENSACK

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/29/2016 at 22:55:19

DUBUQUE TELEGRAPH HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1916

CHILD CRUSHED TO
DEATH SATURDAY
~
EIGHT YEAR OLD STANLEY KECK
WAS “HELPING’ GRANDFATHER
IN QUARRY
~
ACCIDENT NEAR EAGLE POINT
~
Stone Pried From Ledge
Caught Victim Unaware-
Grandfather Nearly Caught Too
~
Stanley Keck, eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Keck, 1272 Lincoln Avenue, was crushed to death in the Buetin Quarry at Einsley’s Lane, in the north end of the city, near Eagle Point, Saturday morning at 9 o’clock, when a huge rock fell from a ledge above upon him. August Kreft, grandfather of the child, would also have been crushed to death, by a second slide, had it not been for John Roggensack, who jerked Mr. Kreft away just in time. The tragedy occurred within a stone’s throw of the victim’s home.

HOW ACCIDENT OCCURRED

Mr. Kreft is employed in the quarry and Saturday morning the child accompanied him for company to help in his childish way, piling up the cracked rock. Mr. Kreft was in the act of prying loose a huge stone and the child was rolling the small rocks from the ledge to the foot of the hill. Mr. Kreft had told the child of the danger and, thinking he had left the position he had been in, continued with his work. Unexpectantly, the stone gave away and dropped a distance of four feet. The child was in a stooped position and the rock fell upon his head, crushing it to a pulp. Considerable earth came down with the boulder and the victim’s body was covered.

A short distance from Mr. Kreft was John Roggensack, he saw the boulder crush the child and ran to the place. As he reached the scene another slide occurred. This time Mr. Kreft was in danger, but the quickness of Mr. Roggensack in pulling the elderly gentleman out prevented him from being killed or injured.

Mr. Kreft didn’t know the child was buried under the rock and debris until told by Mr. Roggensack. He collapsed when informed. Mr. Roggensack with greatest exertion rolled the stone way and picked up the crushed body. There were still signs of life. Mr. Roggensack, with the youth in his arms started for a house a short distance from the scene of the accident, but life was gone before he reached he reached the house.

FAMILY HYSTERICAL

It was a terrible shock to the parents when the lifeless form of the youth, who but a couple of hours before had left the home happy because he could be with his grandfather, was brought in the home. Mr. Kreft, the grandfather, was hysterical. He had to be assisted from the quarry to the Keck home, where he has been staying.

“It was a horrible sight,” said Mr. Roggensack, “and I hope I will never witness another. I happened to be looking in that direction at the time and saw the rock accompanied by nearly two yards of debris cover the child. I ran to his assistance and as I got there I saw another slide coming. I grabbed Mr. Kreft and got him in the clear. When I told him the child was buried under the rock he collapsed. The rock had caught the child squarely upon the head. I removed the rock and dug the child out of the debris. It was surely a sad sight."

The child is survived by his parents, one brother six years old.