The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-15
Life Snuffed Out of
 Charlie Stratford.
EARTH FELL UPON LADS
Had Followed Out a .Den'' on
 Mrs. Ball's Premises.
Little Ransom sDann Was Hurt and Three Other Youngsters Escaped without InJurles--Body of Boy LieeIeus when Taken
 Out.

With laughter upon his lips and joy in his heart over the den "that he and his companions had hollowed out of the earth, Charles Ball Stratford, only son of Mrs. Philippe Ball stratford. perished miserably late yesterday af- ternoon in the very cave whose conn pietion had so delighted him, and with in a few paees of the home which his presence had brighteded during all tho thirteen years he had lived.
 Hardly had he and four companions lighted candles to celebrate the end of their labors, when the roof of the cav srn gave way. and before succor could be rendered him by the Tescuers who answered the summons of his more for tunate companions, the breath of life had forever left the body of Charlie Stratford.
 His comrades, Graham Stratford, John Bethea stratford, J. B. Noble and Ransom spann, were caught by the falling earth and the iron gates which formed the roof, but they were ex- tricated before serious injury resulted.
 Died of SufgOcation.
 The cave in which the lad was en- tombed had been made by himself and several companions on the Washington avenue side of the Ball place. which occupies nearly haR square on Adams and Hull streets and Washing ton avenue. Its roof was made Uf an old irongate covered with earth, and when the rusty metal gave way the shaft was almost filled. The accident . occurred at about 5:45 o'clock and the boys who escaped death immediately gave the alarm. Those who were not completely buried, were removed with out great deal of difficulty. but Char lie Stratford was under tAe gate, and before his body could be found he haa died of sufHocation.
 The hole in which the accident occur- req yesterday afternoon, wass 2 part of "den" which Charlie StratforJ and his companions had just finished af- ter many days of labor. Every after noon. he, with a few other boys, would employ themselves in excavating. They had sunk two shafts, each about SIX feet square, and connected the rooms with a subterranean passage. To roof inc cavern they used pair of old iron V-afca which had once been the portals of the brick wall surrounding the Bal niaSa After thatching these with mattinE and old carpets. they had heaped up earth to height of two or three feet. This cavern was to pc a rendezvous for the boys, and they had inst begun to enjoy 1t when the norGi- SIa oste atrouhe came upon them.
 with Charlie Stratford yesterday af- .arnoon were his cousins, Graham Strat' ford. aged IS years, and John Hetnea stratford. aged 13 years, sons or J. C Stratford, residing at 3sS Adams street T. B, Noble, aged 12 years, son or G D. Noble, residing at SOl Alaoams 5 street. and Ransom Spann, aged lS wears. son of c. S. Spann, at 5l7 Soutn Lawrence Street.
 Young Spann Hurt.
 what caused the roof ot give way is not known. Suddenly the gate over the room where the boys were gathered closely together gave way and it, with the great mass of earth 1t had support ed was precipitated upon them. Two off them, Charlie Stratford and J. B. NobIe. were completely covered by dirt and debris Two others, Graham and John Stratford, were partially buried hut their heads were not covered and they were able to breathe. Ransom Spann was painfully hurt py the gate falling upon his back, but he extricateo himself.
 Several little boys had been playing near the cave and they gave the alarm One of them ran to the residence ol w. w Seidle, 415 Washington Street and told him the boys were buried under the earth. MT. Seidle immediate ly telephoned to police headquarters for assistance and hurried across the street to the place where the accident occurred. Calling two negroes passing he began the work of extricating the boys from their perilous position. John Stratford was buried from the knees
 Vn-A brother, Graham Stratford. was re- moved with more dihlculty, as only hi; head and shoulders were out. Neither of these was seriously hurt.
 In the meantime Chief of Police W. H. Taylor, Captain of Police Milei smith, and a squad of policemen, hat gone to the scene with incredible quick ness, and the work of rescue proceeded rapidly. J. B. Noble was under hall of the gate but it had held back mos of the earth from him and though h' was very weak when recovered he wal practically unhurt
 Recovery of Boys Body.
 Charlie Stratford was the last found His body was already lifeless and i is believed that he lived only a few seconds after the catastrophe. Hi death was due to suifocation and thert were no bruises or abrasions to indi cate that the falling Iron had inflicted injuries upon nlH ne was llIleu the dim light of the candles, by whicl the men were working and a physician who had just arrived announced tha he was beyond help. His body wa, horne into the home of Mrs Charles P. Ball, the lads grandonther.
 Charles Ball stratford was IS yeari old. He was the son of the late Ed ward Stratford, who died several year. ago. and of Mrs. Phillippa Ball Strat ford. He was the grar@son of the lat Col. Charles P. Ball and of Mrs. Ball nee Seibels. The families, whose namel he bore. have for generations beer prominent in Alabama, occupying DO sitions of distinction. honor and trust Their home, in which young Stratfort lived, Is at once one of the oldest and finest in Montgomery, and has been 6 place of gathering for many of thu noted men and women of Alabama.
 The dead boy was student al starke's University School where h' stood high in the estimation of his pre- eeptors and in the affections of hii aahool mates. His tragic death grievei