Burt King Mallory ¹

  General Notes:

Source: Records from Phyllis (Mallory) and Bill Jenkins.
Also a birth record from the family bible. Burt never married.
Burt's birth town, Mountain City, later became Black Hawk.

From "The Rifle Reveille" - Fri. Jun 8, 1906
"Burt Mallory of Antlers Crushed to Death"

One of the saddest accidents that has occurred in the county in a long time was that on Tuesday afternoon between 5 and 6 o'clock, when Burt Mallory was crushed to death at the reservoir owned by James Ewers on Divide Creek.

Young Mallory, in company with Mr. Ewers, was at work digging a trench to the dam of the reservoir, which is about a mile from Mr. Ewers' house, in order to repair the valves and prevent the manhole from filling with water. The manhole being used to let water from the reservoir near the bottom of the dam, as the Reveille understands the matter. The men commenced back about 30 feet from the dam to dig the trench, which was made just wide enough for one person to work in the breast of it. A small slide (more accurately described as a cave in) buried the young man to about his hips, and Mr. Ewers, who was working right at the rear of the young man, shoveling out the dirt, lost no time in trying to free his companion. He had about succeeded and asked Mallory if he was free. The latter answered that he could not get one foot out. Mr. Ewers said all right he would shovel more dirt, but had hardly when from the other side of the trench came another cave-in. Mr. Ewers' jumped clear, but Mallory was caught and buried in the mass to his chin. The farmer hastened the nearest telephone and asked for help. In a very short time Senate Beard and Water Commissioner Soule reached the reservoir and within a half an hour many of Mr. Ewers' neighbors were assembled. As soon as possible the young mans body was rescued, but life was extinct, and so great was the crush against his body that blood came from the nose and mouth.

Mr. Ewers greatly deplores the accident and feels keenly the sudden ending of the young life.

Burt Mallory was not yet 18 years of age and was the son of Judge and Mrs. Mallory of Antlers. A very large number of friends sincerely mourn his death. The funeral was held yesterday from the Antlers schoolhouse and one hundred and fifty neighbors and friends were present, many of whom accompanied the sorrowing family to the grave in Rose Hill cemetery, in Rifle. Rev. Horace Mann conducted the services and music was by friends of the family from Rifle and Antlers.

Comments from Gene H. George (1980)

The reservoir was located north of the Blue Schoolhouse (Fairview School) on Divide Creek. Burt suffered from inflammatory rheumatism in adolescence and was bed fast for two winters with times when the inflammation was so painful that the bed covers had to be suspended above him. He had planted and cared for some roses by the house and they were in bloom at the time of his death. His sisters placed one of these white roses in the casket with him.