The tragic death of David Reese which occurred on January 3, 1906, at Short Mountain Colliery near Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was reported in an obituary that appeared in the Lykens Standard, January 5, 1906. The obituary included details on how the death occurred as well as a premonition experienced several days before. Also, on the morning of the accident, Reese’s finger had been crushed in an accident at a mine entrance, and given the choice going home or staying, he chose the latter. On that day, after the noonday meal, the fall of slate occurred, resulting in him being crushed to death.
DAVID REESE CRUSHED TO DEATH IN MINES
David Reese of this place, a miner employed in No. 3 Slope, No. 6 Counter, West Side, Short Mountain Colliery, was instantly killed by a fall of slate shortly after non Tuesday. Five men were employed at the place, Mr. Reese and George Row being the miners, and William Kolva, Frank Miller and Frank Paul the laborers. The entire party had just finished eating their noonday meal when Mr. Reese said be would go up and dig coal enough to fill another car. He sounded the top and being satisfied that it was safe, commenced work. Kolva seized a pick and was on his way to assist Reese when the latter said to him, “No, you stay down at the bottom and I’ll push the coal down to you.” Just then the fall occurred, a huge piece of slate falling upon Reese and crushing him to the bottom. As he was struck he said “Oh!” and then all was silent. His companions rushed to the scene and with aid of levers removed the slate finding that life was extinct. The body was hoisted to the surface as son as possible and conveyed to his home in the company’s ambulance.
Deceased was born in Wales sixty-two years ago and came to this country about the year 1863, locating first at Scranton and next at Wiconisco. In 1903 he removed to Philadelphia, and after a residence of about a year in that city removed to this place. Shortly after locating at Wiconisco he was married by the Rev. B. E. Jones to Mary Jane Evans, who preceded him in death two and a -half years ago. He is survived by six sons and two daughters, viz: John Reese, Henry Reese, William Reese, Chester Reese, and Guy Reese, of this place, and Edward Reese of Philadelphia; Nellie Reese and Mrs. Gertrude Parnell of this place. Two brothers also survive, Isaac Reese of Plymouth, and John Reese of Salisbury, Somerset County.
What seems a premonition of his death occurred several nights previous to the sad event when his daughter was awakened from her slumber by moans of distress emanating from his bed chamber and upon going to his side and asking him what was wrong replied, “Oh, I thought the top had fallen!” On the morning of the fatal day while Mr. Reese was passing through a mine door on his way to his place of work some one pushed the door to, crushing his dinner pail and bottle and severely bruising the finger of one of his hands. Had he taken the advice of his companions and gone home that morning, he might be living today.
Mr. Reese was one of our best citizens, of a quiet disposition, honest and upright in all his dealings, and respected by all who knew him. He was a member [of] Wesquensque Tribe, No. 177, I. O. R. M. [Improved Order of Red Men] of Wiconisco, and Lykens Local, No. 1062, U. M. W. of A. [United Mine Workers of America].
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o’clock, the services to be held in the Wiconisco Methodist Episcopal Church, where he sang in the choir for many years. Interment will be made in the Wiconisco Cemetery.
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Obituary from Newspapers.com.
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