Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1900-03-23
This Was the Terrible Fate
Which Befel John E. Davis
Of Roberts.
A HARD WAY TO DIE
Such We're the Last Words Uttered
by the Dying Man-His Wife
Stricken by the News.

A most shocking and terrible tate
overlook John e. Davis Of Roberts at
Tuesday mornings conflagration. He
was caught III the falling walls OF
burning building and literally burned
alive. Ellis was the worst fate that has
fallen to the lot of any inhabitant of
this county since its formation and the
bereaved relatives of the dead man
have the sincerest syalpathy Of every
person in this community.
Coming down the street just after
the alalm had been given, John e.
Davis and George w. Wjswell, both of
whom reside near Roborts. were at
tracted by a call for help to take desk
down stairs from the office of DIR. Dill
worth. The gentlemen responded and
had reached the landing OF the stairs
OIL their return with the desk, when all
explosion occurred that shook the build.
ing to it's foundation and toppled over
the brick wall onto them. The shock
came a. il in the twinkling of an eye
and they were completely buried in the
debris. Lying there unable to move,
they were yet able to converse and Mr.
Davis remarked to his companions:
George, this is u hard way to die -
These were the last words that he
uttered At this instance Mr.. Wis.,
we'll. who had been bound under the
falling walls SO closely that be could
not move at all obtained relief by the
mass Of brick falling away from his
ACC and head. but he conld not ext1i-
mt ~
At once realizing his serious predica-
ment, he gave vent to piercing cries
for help, which soon came and he was
rescued from death in furnace Of fire.
No help, however, could be given to
Nh. Davis, for when the rescuers Of
Mr.. Wiswell learned from him that
Davis WAS buried under the mass Of
fallen bricks with him it was too late
to 90 to his assistance. for the stairway
had then collapsed and the fire had
grown 80 hot as to prevent anyone from
going to the unfortunate mans aid
In fact he was in all probability dead
by the time the news of his hav-
ing been caught i'll the flames became
known.
The charred and unrecognizable re-
mains Of the deceased were recovered
from the smoulderinR ruins about six
hours after he met his death.
Frank McCumber was dispatched to
Roberts to break the news to the wild
ow aud escort her to the city. When
the news was conveyed to Mrs Davis
she Immediately fell in II swoon at his
feet and had to be carried into the
house, while Mr.. McCumber lastened
to noiYhbor s for assistance
The deceased was II juryman in the
trial of Charles Samson for murder
and his death made it necessary to dis
charge the jury and set the hearing OF
the case for the June term. M1 Davis
was in the neighborhood Of 81 years
old when overtaken by his terrible fate.
He leaves besides widow son about
s years to mourn his untimely end.
He had resided at Roberts for three
years past, locating there after a short
residence III Livingston. Deceaaed was
born in Missouri and his remains were
shipped to Sedalia, Mo-, Wednesday,
being accompanied by the widow aud
son of the deceased. He was a mem
Der of the A. O. U. W. and carried a
policy for S3 900 in that order.