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| Wilson Dam Victims
Wilson Dam Victims
On June 20, 1919, Charles Current was run over by a train
July 11, 1919, William Simpson's cause was not listed
Oct 23, 1919, Oscar Ramsey, railroad accident
Dec 3, 1919, Henry W. Vanhoose, railroad accident
Feb 6, 1920, J. H. Holland drowned.
April 16, 1920, Johnny Jones was Murdered
May 20, 1920, Martin Mardon Black, pier collapse
May 20, 1920, Ed Broadfoot pier collapse
May 20, 1920, T. M. Davis pier collapse
July 23, 1920, F. J. Oxford was struck by a rock
Oct 17, 1920, Edward Parish rail accident
Oct 22, 1920, Cecil Curtis was crushed by a load of lumber
Oct 22, 1920, Edward Harris was run over by a train
Dec 20, 1920, Harvey Matheny drowned
Dec 20, 1920, T. P. O'Neal drowned
Dec 20, 1920, Henry Gillham drowned
Dec 20, 1920, Forrest Pelt downed
Jan 14, 1921, John Castleberry was struck by a pipe
Jn 21, 1921, J. B. Donaldson was crushed by cement
Feb 11, 1921, Albert McFarland was struck by a train
On April 25, 1921, Andrew E. McCord caused an unknown
Dec 20, 1921, John W. Clark, cause unknown.
Dec 6, 1922, Clarence Ashmor, cause unknown
Feb 1923 Joe Johnson, cause unknown
Mar 9, 1923, James Thigpen drowned
Mar 23, 1923, Ike Anderson was crushed by gears
April 23, 1923, G. E. Copas was struck by a train
Aug 10, 1923, Ben Rice Scalded
Oct 12, 1923, Lawrence D. Lloyd was found dead
Jan 1924 Jasper Welch, cause unknown
Mar 1, 1924, Rush King drowned
Mar 1, 1924, Edward Jones drowned
April 30, 1924, Nathan Mosley fell above the powerhouse
May 5, 1924, George D. Pettus' cause unknown
On May 24, 1924, Tom Tate was struck by a concrete bucket
June 16, 1924, L. R. Loyd fell over 80 feet
On July 4, 1924, R. D. Butler stepped off the barge and drowned
Sept 4, 1924, VC Miller was shot by his wife
Oct 3, 1924, Rube Martin fell from the concrete arch
Dec 1924 George W. Alexander, cause unknown
Jan 26, 1925, William A. Mecke fell 80 feet and drowned
March 28, 1925, C. D. Phillips was struck by the concrete form
In May 1925, Fred King's cause is unknown
June 1, 1925, Arch Austin was struck by a concert form
June 12, 1925, Claude L. Danley fell 25 feet in the powerhouse
Aug 4, 1925, Richard Buckingham was struck by a chain
Other victims
Laurel Davis, Dave Denny, Percy Harris, Alexander Hobbs, Ardee Ingram, John Marshall, Will Monroe, Isaac Morgan, Nelson Nelson, Richard H. Stinson, Isaac N Stutts, Jessie Swoope, Troy Wardell
Listed in the index of the state death certificate
Dead certificate index for Colbert County man. Also listing for the Lauderdale man of the same name who died in March 1924.
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| The reward for Drowned Men T. P. O'Neal, Henry Gillham, Harvey Matthews & Ernest Pelt Dec 24, 1919
The reward for drowned men
Fifty dollars each for the bodies of men drowned at Wilson Dam on Christmas Eve.
The authorities at the Wilson Dam have offered a reward of fifty dollars each for the recovery of the bodies of the men who were drowned on the 24th day of December.
The names of the men who lost their lives in the swift waters of Tennessee are T.P. O'Neal, Harvey Matthews, Earnest Pelt, and Henry Gillham. At the time of the accident that cost these men their lives, the river was running strong, and it may be that the bodies have gone far downstream.
It is announced that the finder of any of these bodies will hold and promptly communicate with Capt. Henry Fox, C.S., Engineer Office, Wilson Dam, Florence, by telephone or telegraph.
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| The accident at the dam is fatal Albert McFarland Feb 11, 1921 buried Florence Cemetery, Florence, AL The accident at the dam is fatal.
Albert McFarland was struck by a train while working on Construction and succumbed to injuries in a few hours.
The entire community was distressed last Friday evening to learn that Mr. Albert McFarland had been struck by a train on the construction work at Wilson Dam and had had a leg badly mangled, that amputation would be necessary, but fatal news that he had succumbed to his injury before an operation could be performed, shock and sorrow brought to a large circle of friends.
Mr. McFarland was in charge of the unloading of bars of concrete on the construction bridge, where the track and many switches handled the heavy load on the construction train.
While looking in the opposite direction, he was struck from behind by a car and knocked down on the track.
He caught hold of the car to pull himself from beneath the wheel,s and his leg became caught between a crosstie and the truck boxing of the ca,r and was badly mangled in the fles.h
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Negro Crushed in Cog Wheel
A government employee was caught in the gears of an unloading crane on the deck.
Below the Florence Bridge
Ike Anderson
Mar 23, 1923
Ike Anderson, one of the colored employees of the government working at the unloading dock at the Florence bridge, met a horrible death last Thursday evening when he was caught in the gears of one of the big electrical cranes used in unloading sand and gravel.
Anderson was at work about the dock when his boot became caught in the cog of the crane, and before it was noticed by anyone, his entire body was drawn into the gears and terribly mangled, resulting in death in a short time.
The big crane was busy unloading the sand and gravel brought up from Buck Island, which was taken off the barges and dumped into cars for transportation to the dam, where the accident occurred.
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| Another Fatal Accident Occurs at Wilson Dam John Castleberry Killed Jan 14, 1921
Another Fatal Accident Occurs at Wilson Dam
John Castleberry was killed.
Another fatal accident occurred last Friday afternoon at Wilson Dam when a thirty-foot section of five-inch iron casing, that was being drawn from one of the drill holes, slipped from the rope and fell, crushing the skull of John Castleberry and painfully injuring L. G. Jernigan.
Castleberry was a young man from Lauderdale living on the Jackson Highway, about twelve miles from Florence.
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| Death Plunge for Dam Worker Carpenter Falls from the concrete forms into the swirling waters of the river, and the boy is carried swiftly away. James Thigpen March 9, 1923 A death plunge for a dam worker
The carpenter falls from the concrete forms into the swirling waters of the river, carried swiftly away.
The swirling waters of Tennessee claimed another victim Tuesday morning when James Thigpen, a 26-year-old carpenter at Wilson Dam, lost his foothold while at work on one of the tall concrete forms and plunged into the stream to be carried swiftly out of sight in the current that raged between the pier.
Thigpen had been at work at the dam only since February 20th, having come here from Paint Rock, in Jackson County, Alabama, where he left his young wife, Mrs. Myrtle Thigpen, to await him. Shortly after he went to work on Tuesday morning, when he climbed up on the framework of one of the forms, the accident occurred.
Efforts to locate the body were useless, as the stream is extremely swift when it passes between the piers.
Notice was sent down the river to be on the lookout for this body, and the relative was immediately notified. Besides his widow, Thigpen is survived by his father, Mr. Dan Thigpen of Ramet, Tennessee.
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| A man was fatally burned at the dam. Ben Rice Aug 10, 1923 A man was fatally burned at the dam.
Crane overturns, steam scalding a fireman to death. The rest of the crew escaped by jumping.
A fatal accident occurred last Friday morning at Wilson Dam when one of the locomotive cranes used in escalating for the locks on the north side overturned and caught the fireman, Ben Rice, under the cab, where escaping steam scalded him so severely that death followed twelve hours later at the Coffee Hospital, where he had been rushed for medical attention.
Rice was a citizen of East Florence, where he lived with his mother, who, with two brothers, Clyde and Ellis, survived him. He was about 35 years of age.
Funeral services were at two o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Fielder Funeral Home, being conducted by Rev. J. O. Hall, pastor of the East Florence Methodist Church, followed by interment at the city cemetery.
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Wilson Dam Labor Foreman was shot and instantly killed by his wife, defending herself.
VC Miller
Sept 4, 1924
Wilson Dam Labor foreman was shot and instantly killed by his wife, defending herself.
V. C. Miller threatens his wife and goes after a hatchet when she probs a fatal load into his head from a single-barreled shotgun.
A man reported having been abusive toward his wife before.
VC Miller, labor foreman at Wilson Dam, was shot and instantly killed by his wife at their home on the south side reservation shortly after 8:30 o'clock last night.
Immediately after the shooting the wife and two small children, ages 3, and 5 took refuge in the home of a neighbor where they remained under guard last night, K. S. Skinner, chief of Guards at the dam, announced this morning that she would be held on the reservation until a preliminary hearing was held before United States Commissioner Merwin Koone at the Federal Building in Florence this afternoon at five o'clock.
According to statements from neighbors, Miller had been very overbearing with his wife for some time. He had threatened her on several occasions, so the story goes, and recently ordered her to pack her clothes and other personal effects and leave.
Yesterday, according to the information given to the authorities by a resident of the reservation, he demanded his discharge and payment in full at the dam. Upon airing at his home, he immediately became involved in a quarrel with his wife, and when he threatened her life, she secured a single-barreled shotgun and shot him, the load striking him in the abdomen. The wounded man rushed for a hatchet, but before he could reach his wife with it, she reloaded the gun and fired point-blank into his face, causing instant death.
After arriving at the home of W.N. Tracy, a neighbor, Mrs. Miller collapsed. Guards at the dam were notified of the killing, and they, in turn, telephoned the Morrison Undertaking Establishment, who removed the body to Florence to prepare it for burial.
Mr. and Mrs. Milled have lived at the dam for the past two years. They came here from Chattanooga, TN. The Deceased had been employed in different divisions of construction work at
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| Labor falls off the dam to instant death citizen of Iron City plunges into the river 80 feet below LR Loyd June 16, 1924 Buried Lone Cedar Cemetery, Lauderdale County, AL Mr. L. R. Loyd, a laborer at Wilson Dam, fell from the top of the powerhouse on the north side of the river this morning at 8:10 o'clock, causing instant death. He felt more than eighty feet, and it was about thirty-five minutes before the body could be recovered from the deep water into which he fell. Details of the fatal accident could not be learned, but it is thought that he became overbalanced while engaged in his duties on top of the powerhouse construction, falling to his death. Mr. Loyd was 23 years of age. He was married and made his home in Iron City, Tenn., until recently. He and his wife have been living on Huntsville Road, near the dam, since they came to Florence. J. J. Phillips, funeral director, has charge of the remains and announced this morning that arrangements for the funeral have not been completed. Printed in the Florence Times, Wednesday Afternoon, June 18, 1924. |
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| Dam Worker Succumbs to his injuries Phillips dies in a few hours after having his chest crushed Other victims were severely injured HC Penny was seriously wounded when the form fell on the dam CD Phillips March 28, 1925
CD Phillips, who was severely injured at Wilson Dam
Yesterday, he succumbed to his injuries during the afternoon, and his body was taken to Tuscumbia, where he had made his home for the past two years.
Phillips and a Florence man, HC Penny, were both caught when one of the big wooden forms for the concrete work at Wilson Dam slipped from the crane as it was being put in place. Both were seriously injured, the death of Phillips following in a little more than three hours, while Penny is thought to be on the road to recovery. Phillip's chest was crushed by the heavy form, his lungs bursting under the pressure. He had come from Barton to Tuscumbia about two years ago, to work at Wilson Dam, where he was a member of the carpenter's force. He is survived by his widow and five children. Penny is one of the old-timers at Wilson Dam, having been first employed there in 1919.
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| Stumble proves fatal when a dam employee attempts to race from beneath the falling form. Archie Austin June 1, 1925 Buried Canaan Methodist Cemetery, Lauderdale Co, AL
Stumble proves fatal when the dam.
Employee attempts to race from beneath the falling form.
The life of Archie Austin was crushed out this morning when a heavy wooden form toppled over on him. Two companions succeeded in escaping.
A young man trips when he starts the race to save his life.
Instant death from an accident
Had been a resident of North Florence in recent months
Archie Austin
Jun1, 1925
Archie Austin, age 23, a carpenter at Wilson Dam, was instantly killed this morning at about nine o'clock when a concrete form fell on him, pinning him underneath. The workman who immediately went to his rescue, lifting the heavy form from his body, found that life was extinct and noticed the error of Fielder, the undertaker, who took charge of the remains.
Austin and two other workmen were engaged in placing one of the large wooden forms in the lock pit and were moving it forward with pinch bars when it was pinched forward too far and tilted over, about to fall upon them. All three started to run from beneath it, but Austin caught his foot in some wire and stumbled and fell, being caught beneath the heavy mass and instantly killed, while the other townspeople escaped.
Mr. Austin had worked at the dam for the past 23 months. He was transferred this morning from the Power House sector to the lock on the north shore, and he had been engaged in his new duties only a few hours when the fatal accident occurred. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. TB Austin of Memphis, who were immediately notified. A telegram from his father stated that he would arrive on the night train after the funeral arrangements were announced.
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| Negro Killed at Wilson Dam today Richard Buckingham Aug 4, 1925 Buried in Buckingham Cemetery, Lauderdale County, AL
Negro Killed at Wilson Dam
Richard Buckingham, a colored laborer at Wilson Dam, met almost instant death this morning when the stay chains of a dump car, which was being unloaded, broke unfastened and permitted the heavyweight of the dump bucket to swing over, knocking him down and catching his head.
The injured man was removed from beneath the weight immediately and rushed to the first aid station, but died before he got there.
The dump car was one of the large twenty-ton capacity models, and the accident occurred on the Jackson Island section, where unloading was taking place at approximately 8:10 this morning.
Buckingham was a resident of Florence living near Chisholm Road.
 May 24, 1924 buried Maplewood Cemetery, Pulaski, TN
Accident This Morning Fatal at Wilson Dam
Concrete Forman Dies After Having His Back Broken Today
Tim Tate, one of the foremen at Wilson Dam, received injuries this morning from which he died in a little more than an hour, after being rushed to the Coffee Memorial Hospital here for treatment. He was struck by a loaded concrete bucket that fell from one of the big cranes, and his back was broken, and he sustained other injuries. He was a resident of the reservation at Plant Two, having come here from Pulaski, Tenn., and is survived by his widow and several small children. His death came about half an hour after reaching the hospital. The accident occurred on the south side of the dam, where construction was going forward on the powerhouse.
TOM TATE MAY 24, 1924
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| NEGRO has fatal fall at Wilson Dam Nathan Mosley April 30, 1924 "Nathan Mosley, 21-year-old negro, was almost instantly killed yesterday afternoon at about 2 o'clock when he fell from the top of Wilson am while climbing on the structure above the powerhouse. The negro attempted to catch in a wedge that protruded from a concrete form at the top of the dam when it came loose, causing the negro to fall to his death. He fell more than 60 feet and died while en route to the hospital. |
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| William Necke Jan 26, 1925 Buried St Michael's Cemetery, St Florian, Al Local Citizen Killed at Dam Loses balance on top of the Dam and falls to water below Death occurs by drowning stunned by the fall, unable to get out of the shallow water William A. Mecke, a member of a prominent St. Florian family, met an instant death this morning when he fell from the tip of the dam into the spillway, the fall of eighty feet into the water stunning him to the extent that he was unable to save himself. However, the water was only four or five feet deep, and drowning occurred before those working with him could reach his body. Every means of artificial respiration was used, but he could not be revived. The accident occurred in the Jackson Island section, where the water is comparatively still below the spillway. Meeke has been employed at the dam since work resumed some time ago, serving as a member of the carpenters' force. He was well known throughout the country as the son of Leo P. Meeke, a prominent farmer of St Florian. He was 32 years old and left a young wife and two children: Mary Ann, aged 2, and an infant of only 2 weeks. He is also survived by his father, mother, three brothers, and three sisters, Leo, Frank, Thomas Mecke, Mrs. Harry Epping, Mrs. Frank Henke, and Miss Genevieve Meeke, all of this county. He made his home near that of his father at St. Florian. He spent his entire life here, except for the period when he was in the army service during the war. The body was taken in charge by James J. Phillips and removed to the funeral home on Wood Avenue. Arrangements for the funeral had not been made at two o'clock this afternoon. |
