Muscatine County, Iowa COMMUNITY NEWS

Submitted by Phyllis Hazen, November 8, 2017

The Muscatine Journal, Wednesday, 13 October 1915, pages 1 & 10

HILLSIDE CAVE BOYS’ TOMB
FOUR LADS PERISH UNDER EARTHEN AVALANCHE
WHEN ROOF OF DUG OUT FALLS IN
Young Boys Buried Under Debris When Retreat Collapses.

JAYNE PASTURE SCENE
Youths Ranging in Ages From I3 to 16 Victims of Most Tragic Local
Accident in a Decade— One Barely Escapes.

NO CHANCE FOR LIFE
Rescuers Rush to Accident Scene With Pulmotor But Lives Are
Crushed Out Before Rescue Is Effected—City Shocked.

        A dug-out in the side of a steep hill in the Jayne pasture in the west end of the city which for less than a week had been the favorite rendezvous of the boys of the neighborhood became the tomb of four of the youthful inmates of the cave when the collapse of the excavated retreat buried them beneath tons of sand and clay late yesterday afternoon.. The death of the four imprisoned lads resulted before they could be rescued. The dead are:

JOHN GAUTHIER, 933 Lucas street. Age 14 years.
CHARLES BECKE, 1103 Lucas street. Age 13.
HARRY DAV1SON, 1007 Lucas street. Age 16.
GLEN THOMPSON, colored, Bridgman street. Age 14.

All Suffocated.

        Suffocation caused the death of the four according to the physicians who examined the bodies upon their removal from the earthen sepulchre, which only a half hour before had been their primitive playhouse. But one of the boys received injuries as a result of the falling dirt which might have caused death bad it been possible to rescue the unfortunate ones. He was the Thompson boy who was found to have sustained a serious fracture of the lower limb. When his body was removed from the cave a bone in his foot was found to be protruding through the flesh just above the ankle. Several of the other bodies revealed bruises which however would not have been of serious consequences. None of the bodies were crushed.

One Escapes.

        With the collapse of the dug-out Ford Hopkins, the young son of Fred Hopkins of 118 Nyenhuis street was standing just outside the opening and realizing the threatened fate of his companions he at once hurried back to his home which was fully two blocks away and gave the alarm. His mother and another neighbor hurried to the scene of the tragedy but they were powerless to aid the entombed boys buried beneath from three to five feet of dirt.

        “We could hear the poor boys moaning as we approached the cave-in and realized that something must be done at once but having nothing with us which might be used in excavating the ground which covered the boys I ran back to the house and phoned to the police station and the fire station at once for assistance,” said Mrs. Hopkins in telling of her part in the attempt to secure such aid as might save the boys.

Officers Work in Vain.

        The scene of the tragic event is several blocks from any settle residential section, hence it was impossible to secure the services of any men who might have aided in the rescue of the boys. The police and firemen who hurried to the place in the Central Station fire truck were among the first would-be rescuers to arrive. With their arrival several…(Continued on Page 2.)

WEST HILL BOYS DUG OWN SEPULCHRE WITHOUT
THOUGHT OF POSSIBLE PERIL
Retreat But Lately Constructed in Hillside Prized Rendezvous.
UNKNOWN TO PARENT
But for Escape of One Lad Fate of Youths Might Have Remained a
Mystery for Many Days—Desperate-Rescue Efforts fail.
(Page 2, Continued from Page 1.)

…men were engaged in a desperate effort to liberate the boys, who were now, however, silent in death.

        Dr. E. B. Fulliam also reached the scene just as the boys were being removed from the hillside and he directed the use of the pulmotor, which was resorted to in an effort to induce respiration. That life was extinct before the first body was removed is the belief of the physician, as well as of the members of the fire truck crew, who worked zealously and heroically in their efforts to bring the boys back to life by resuscitative methods. Each form was patiently worked over for from ten to fifteen minutes after its removal from the dugout before hope was abandoned.

Taken to Homes.

        After the unfortunate boys had been pronounced dead their bodies were removed to their homes. The news of the tragedy spread rapidly and word of the untimely and tragic death had been borne to the bereaved parents before the still form was taken into the home.

        Coroner E. H. King, as well as several other physicians visited the scene shortly after the shocking tragedy, but their services were of no avail.

But Lately Built.

Lead Downward.

        The boys dug down into the hillside and according to the Hopkins lad instead of running directly into the hill, the course of the cave was downward. It extended back about eight feet and was about the same height and width. Above it towered a clay bank to a height of about twenty-five feet. That the excavating might result in the collapse of the tons of dirt above their heads happy and care free in their newly excavated playhouse.

        Here it was that they proposed to spend their leisure hours, far removed from parental restraint or the eyes of curious ones. They proposed to cook their own meals there at times and only two days ago had attempted to make coffee there with the result that one of the boys received a painful burn. It was stated by the Hopkins boy last night that a "feed" was in prospect for last evening.

Might Have Been Mystery

        Had it not been that the Hopkins boy was outside the cave at the time of its collapse, hours and perhaps days might have elapsed before the bodies would have been recovered for had the fate of all five been sealed with the fall of dirt their parents would have been at a loss to discover their tomb. The location of the cave was known only to the boys themselves for while their parents stated last night that they had heard their sons speak of their new dug-out, none questioned the boys as to its location.

Wildest Excitement.

        The report of the tragedy spread like wildfire not only in the neighborhood where the boys resided but throughout the entire city and scores of persons hurried to the scene of the shocking catastrophe where they viewed the activities of the rescuers.

        As the fire truck sped along through the west section of the city with the several blue coats aboard many were of the belief that a fire alarm had been turned in and a considerable crowd followed the truck out Lucas street and thence down Fletcher avenue and Nyenhuis street to the pasture where instead of a fire they found a small party of excited men and women engaged in the gruesome task of removing the limp and lifeless forms. The officers who accompanied the truck to the west end of the city were Night Captain O’Leary and Patrolmen Faulhber, Moore and O’Brien. Upon their arrival they aided in the rescue attempt and superintended the removal of the bodies to the darkened and grief stricken homes.

Had No Intimation.

        The parents of the unfortunate boys had not the slightest intimation that their beloved children were in the slightest danger. Had an adult person visited the subterranean rendezvous of the boys it is quite likely that they would have been forbidden to frequent the place but the spot was far removed from the observation of any other than the small company of juvenile "Cave-men." Hence it was with bewildering unexpectedness that the parents of the unfortunate boys received the sad tidings.

Would Be Cave-Men.

        A desire on the part of the youths to live in a primitive state prompted the digging of the cave. "We were just beginning to enjoy the cave," said the little Hopkins lad last evening. Too young to grasp the pathos and grief which the fate of his comrades occasioned the youngster appeared to be little disturbed or excited when he was interviewed at the home of his parents an hour after the removal of the bodies. "We were going to cook and play there every afternoon, but we can't do it now I guess," he said.

Becke the Youngest.

        Charley Becke, aged 13, was the youngest of the four victims of the accident. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Becke, who reside at 1103 Lucas St. The grief stricken parents said that their first intimation of the disaster came, to them soon after Mr. Becke, who is a lather, had returned home from his work. A small boy brought the news to him and he hurriedly followed the fire truck which conveyed the pulmotor to the scene, of death. The youth's body was taken home in an automobile after the vain efforts of Dr. Fulliam at resuscitation. He was in the sixth grade of the school and was a likeable little chap, loved both by his companions and teachers. Besides the father and mother the youth is survived by a brother and sister, both older. The funeral arrangements will be held from the home but the time and place of interment has not as yet been decided upon, but will be announced later.

Parents Seek To Aid.

        John Gauthier, Jr., was 14 years old, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gauthier, of 993 Lucas St. The parents, overwhelmed with grief could hardly give a coherent account of the terrible affair, but the father stated that as soon as he heard the fire trucks going by the house someone informed him that his boy was among those who were in the cave at the time of the accident. Both father and mother hurried to the spot only to be informed of the hopelessness of further efforts to revive the little victim.

        John Gauthier, Jr., was an exceptionally bright and manly little fellow, he attended the McKinley school in the 7th grade. He was born in Marshalltown, the former home of the Gauthiers, but had lived in this city with his parents until the unfortunate event which caused his death. As in the other bereaved families funeral arrangements up to the present time have not been arranged, hut will be announced later. Besides both parents the decedent is survived by three sisters and two brothers.

Davison Oldest In Party.

        Among the many homes saddened by the tragedy was that of Edwin Davison at 1097 Lucas street where a grief stricken mother; and his brothers and sisters shocked by the terrible tragedy sat bewildered by the realization of the loss which had come to them. Harry Davison was the oldest member of the party. He was sixteen years of age. He was born near Warrensburg, Mo., and was eleven years of age when the family moved here. His father has been employed as a clerk at the Rock Island freight depot for some years.

        The body of the Davison boy upon being examined was found to be marked with a gash near his eye which is believed to have been made by a hatchet which he held in his hand at the time of the slide. No bones were broken.

        Aside from his parents he is survived by four brothers, who are Orville, Oliver, Bernel and Curtis, and two sisters, Myrtle and Ada.

        He attended the McKinley school being one of the most promising pupils in the seventh grade. He was a likeable chap whose frank manliness attracted many to him. The sympathy of the many friends of the family are extended to his sorrowing relatives.

Limb Is Broken.

        Glenn Thompson, the colored youth of the party, was the only one to receive a physical Injury. The right leg was broken near the ankle. His mother is now prostrate with grief being confined to her bed at this time.

        The body of Glenn Thompson, the son of Mrs. Walter Thompson, of 112 Bridgman street, will be taken to Grandview, Ia., where the interment will take place tomorrow.

        The death of the son culminates a series of unfortunate happenings in the bereaved family, a younger brother and sister survive, the father having died recently in the state asylum at Mt. Pleasant. The youth attended the McKinley school and was unusually bright for his years. It is said it was the idea of Glenn Thompson which, incited the other young victims to the digging of the cave.

Mother Faints.

        When word of the death of the Thompson boy was received at his home his mother who only a few months ago lost her husband fainted away.

The Funerals.

        Late announcements as to the funeral arrangements for the young victims of the cave accident are as follows: The remains of Glenn Thompson will be taken to Grandview tomorrow and interred there.

        The funeral of John Gauthier, Jr., will be held from the residence at 2 o'clock Thursday, the Rev. J. W. Graves of the First Baptist church officiating. Interment at Greenwood cemetery.

        The body of Harry Davison will be held at 2:30 from the residence tomorrow, Rev. Leander Smith of the Brethren church will perform the funeral ceremonies. Interment at Greenwood.

        Chas. Becke will be buried from the residence at 3 o'clock, Rev. J. W. Graves will also officiate at this interment which will be in Greenwood.

The Muscatine Journal Thursday, 14 October 1915, page 3

VICTIMS OF FALL OF CAVE BURIED
SIMPLE OBSEQUIES PRECEED INTERMENT
OF BODIES OF CAVE VICTIMS.

A DOUBLE FUNERAL
United In Death Members of Davison and Becke Families Join In
Funeral Service—Words of Comfort Preached to the Surviving.

        Funeral services were held this afternoon over the bodies of three of the four boys whose lives were sniffed out in the collapse of the cave which builded by their own hands became their tomb on Tuesday evening. The interment of the trio of boys which took place at Greenwood cemetery was almost simultaneous. The funeral of the fourth member of the party will be held at Grandview where the remains have been taken.

        A joint funeral service was held over the bodies of the Davison and Becke boys.

Double Funeral.

        The Davison and Becke homes are only a few doors from each other, and the two bereaved families, united by death decided to hold the burial services and interment from the Davison home on Lucas street. The remains of Charley Becke were tenderly removed to the former home of his playmate this morning.

        Promptly at 2:30 the two little coffins, each with its group of loved ones following were conveyed to the cemetery. They did not have far to go, for the two homes are situated just across from Greenwood.

        A touching address was delivered over the remains by Rev. Leander Smith. He sought to comfort the heart broken parents, but the double bereavement was almost too much for even the spectators to bear.

        The minister touchingly dwelt upon the lifting of the latch by the angel of death and the opening of the door to eternal rest for the souls of the departed.

The Ganthier Funeral.

        While the interment of the two youthful victims was being conducted, a hearse and funeral vehicles led another precession to the scene of interment, it being the passing of the body of John Gauthier, Jr., friend and playmate of the two little boys whose bodies were being lowered into their graves.

        After a brief but eloquent address Rev. Newton Moore of the Mulford Congregational church paid a touching tribute to the lovable and manly qualities possessed by the decedent.

        “Now we see as though a glass, darkly but then face to face, now we know in part; but then shall we even as we also are known,” said Rev. Moore. “While to us such a awful shock, because of our limited knowledge and limited view, yet to God there is neither accident, mystery or surprise.

        The minister concluded his remarks by saying, “this family, and friends, have not only the sincere sympathy of the entire city, but you have also the Heavenly Father’s promise to bind up the broken heart, sustain the sorrowing and comfort those who mourn.”

Youthful Pall Bearers.

        Those who acted as pall bearers for Charley Becke were Clark Bowen, Albert Hyink, Floyd Rehmel, Clinton Davis, • Clifford Hopkins, Bartus Busch, Ralph Loeber and Harold Greenwald, playmates and friends of the deceased. Those who acted as an escort for the body of Harry Davison. were Earnle Raethz, Ivan Norton, Chas. Davis, Clarence Haley, Harold Hylnk and Clifford Hopkins.

        The schoolmates and companions who took the part of pall bearers for John Gauthier, Jr., were Peter Wilkins, Anthony Rinsland, William Vanyesldyke, Rudolph Bunn, Henry Horst and Walter Fryber.