Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-08-24
SmOthered in Wheat.

One of the most shocking trag-
edies which has occurred in this
section was the death of Elmer
Marks, the 9-year-old son of Mr.
j. W. Marks, which occurred
Saturday, August Ii.
Young Marks, with a number of
other boys of about the same age.
had been in the habit of playing
around the grain elevator of Mr..
III. w. Baker, at the n. & w
depot here.
On the day of the tragedy. Elmer
had been over to the elevator in the
forenoon and had soiled his cloth
ing with dirt from the mill. lie
went home and had been dressed in
clean suit before returning.
Along in the afternoon, probably
between 3 and 4 o'clock, he was
seen at the mill by one of the color
ed men employed there and was
told that he had better 90 home, as
he might spoil another suit of cloth
ing with dirt or grease.
The last seen of the boy alive
was when he called to Rice Shep-
pard at the \. &. W. depot from
the window in the elevator.
About half an hour afterward the
grain which was running into a car
from the elevator suddenly stop
ped. When one of the employees
went to see what was the reason for
the grain stopping he found little
foot protruding from the chute
through which the grain passed
into the car.
The alarm was Immediately
sounded and a physician called for.
DR.. J. Edward Harris reached the
scene 10y the time the body was
taken out of the bin, but he de-
clared that death had occurred
about ten minutes before the boy
was taken out of the wheat.
Before the body could be recov-
cred 1t was necessary TO move about
400 bushels of wheat.
In the Baker elevator there are a
number of large bins side by side,
for the reception of various grades
of wheat. Little tracks could he
seen ON top of the wheat i'm each
bin, and it is supposed that young
Marks was playing and running
across the bins. Whether he knew
that wheat was pouring out of one
bin or not will never be known, but
it is supposed that he jumped into
the emptying bin without realizing
that there was danger. The small
chute caused an immense amount
of suction in the center of the bin.
and the little boy was drawn down
so quickly that he had no chance 10
escape.
After the body had been recover
eel it was carried to the home and
Drenarcd for burial bV Tndertakcr
Enders.
The funeral was held Monday
morning, Rev. james NJ. Greene
officiating, assisted 10y Rev. Mr..
Damron. of Baltimore.
The remains were then placed on
board the northbound y. 4 W.
train and taken to Charles Town
for interment in the family plot of
the Dinkle family.
At the grave the services were
conducted by Mr.. Greene, assisted
10y Rev. Mr.. Hopkins. of Charles
Town.
Elmer Marks was very bright
boy and showed remarkable ability
for one SO young. The sympathy
of the entire section has been eX-
tended to the bereavod parents and
family.
At the time of the accident, Mr..
j. w. Marks was lying very i'll in
a Washington hospital, and the
news was not broken to him until
the week following. He stood the
shock very well, considering his
enfeebled condition, and was
brought home few days later,
We are glad TO learn that his condi-
ton is improving, and hope that he
will soon be able to get ont and
around.
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The Eagles at Winchester.