HENRY DOUGLAS, 27 YEARS EMPLOYEE OF THE ST. JOSEPH LEAD CO.,
CRUSHED TO DEATH WHEN CAUGHT IN MACHINERY
A very sad accident, and one which cast a deep
gloom over the entire community, accurred last Saturday night about ten o'clock when Henry
Douglas lost his life in an accident while at his work in the Bonne Terre mill.
The accident happened when he was trying to put a belt on a pulley, and
in attempting to pull it on the pulley, he instead pulled it entirely over, with the
result that the belt started wrapping around the shaft. In haste to shove it back on the
pulley, the belt caught his arm and fastened him between it and the shaft, resulting in
injuries that caused almost immediate death. A co-laborer immediately turned off the power
and the unfortunate man was removed from the machinery. An inquest was held Sunday morning
at nine o'clock at P.A. Benham's Undertaking Parlor and the verdict of the Coroner's jury
was that death was caused by accident.
The funeral services were held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church Tuesday
morning at nine o'clock and were conducted by Rev. Father Brinkman, who spoke very
beautifully of the life of the deceased. Interment took place in the Catholic Cemetery.
The funeral was one of the largest ever held in this city and the floral offerings were
numerous and beautiful.
The deceased was born in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri in 1862, and was
therefore aged 65 years at the time of his death. At the age of twenty years he was united
in marriage to Miss Louise Lawrence of Lawrenceton, Missouri, where they made their home
for some time. To this union three children were born. A son lost his life in an accident
at the age of ten several years ago. The surviving children are Leonard, of Herculaneum,
and Mrs. John Govro, of Bonne Terre. He is also survived by his devoted wife.
Some years after his marriage, Mr. Douglas moved his family to Doe Run,
where he was employed by the Doe Run Lead Company. Later he moved to Elvins, where he was
again employed by this company. About four years ago he and his wife moved to Bonne Terre,
where they purchased the home owned and occupied by John Poston at that time. He accepted
a position in the St. Joseph Lead Company Mill, having been employed by the Lead Company
for about 27 years and was considered a very valued employee by them.
Mr. Douglas was a devout Christian and was a member of the St. Joseph
Catholic church of this city and was also a member of the Holy Name Society. His was a
noble and beautiful life and one that enriched the lives of those with whom he came in
contact. He was of a cheerful disposition and radiated daily the sunshine within him. He
was at all times thoughtful and considerate of others and was a loving and indulgent
husband and father and a loyal citizen. Truly, he will be missed, not only by his family,
but by all who were priveleged to know him.
To the bereaved family, other relatives and friends we extend genuine
sympathy in their sudden sorrow.
"I cannot say, and I will not say
That he is dead -- he is just away.
With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,
He has wandered into an unknown land,
And left us dreaming how very fair its needs
must be (since he lingers there).
And you -- O you, who the wildest yearn
For the old-time step and the glad return,
Think of him faring on, as dear
In the love of there as the love of here;
Think of him still as the same, I say,
He is not dead -- he is just away."
THE STAR NEWS-REGISTER, Bonne Terre, St. Francois Co. MO, Aug. 19, 1927