Dallas Morning News
July 31, 1897

AWFUL PLUNGE TO DEATH
Elmer Doolittle and Walter Morris Fall From a Cupola to the Ground

WALTER MORRIS DIED LAST NIGHT
Mr. Doolittle is in a Very Precarious Condition
Sherman, Tex., July 20 - The wire nails through a wooden cleat failed to sustain the weight imposed upon them at 4 o'clock this afternoon, and Walter Morris and Elmer Doolittle plunged headlong from the cupola of the Diamond mill elevator to the slanting roof of the main building, thence to the ground below, a distance in all of about sixty feet.  They are now hovering between life and death with changes greatly against them.
Morris is 37 years of age, married, has one child and lived at 1407 Mulberry street.  Doolittle is 20 years of age, single and lives with his aged parents at 1041 South Hazlewood street.  Both men are painters and were following their avocation when they were precipitated without a moment's warning to their probable deaths.
Two large pieces of 6x2 projected from either of the two windows on the north side of the cupola; to the ends of these pieces was nailed a piece of 6x1, and this in turn had nailed to it, as a cleat resting on the floor, a small piece of pine block, which was held to the floor by three moderately large wire nails.  These nails were the ones which failed in the test placed upon them.  A stage board rested on the two pieces projecting from the windows.
Morris and Doolittle had completed the west end of the cupola and had shifted the stage plank a little eastward.  They came out of the west window and mounted the stage board.  In a half minute parties below heard a scream and glancing up saw both men plunging and revolving through space and strike the ground and remain perfectly motionless.  There was not a man of the dozen who saw it that for a moment supposed either of them would ever breathe again.
Charles Ritemour said: "I heard Morris cry out, and then he came off the slanting roof of the main elevator building.  He came down with his hand and face very close together.  He gave utterance to several cries as he fell, but I do not remember what he said. He had almost if not quite struck the ground when Doolittle rolled off the roof.  He seemed to turn completely over several times before he struck the ground, and appeared to be rather on his back or side.  I remember of thinking when Morris fell, and I did not see Doolittle, that maybe he had succeeded in catching hold of something.  I am satisfied that he made a desperate effort to clutch at the raised places along the tin roof to which they fell from the cupola."  Mr. Ritemour's theory of Doolittle's effort is very likely correct, as there are finger marks on even the smooth sides of the cupola, and on the slanting roof there are the same marks.
Mr. George French, contractor, for whom the men were working, was on the inside of the cupola, but unable to render them the least assistance, and stood at the window a horrified spectator until the men plunged from the roof and out of his sight.
As soon as possible both men were placed on cots improvised of bagging from the elevator, and their faces bathed with cold water.  Morris revived first.  His right wrist was broken and the bones protruded from the jagged rent fully an inch.  There were cuts about his head and he was expectorating blood freely.  He opened his eyes and seemed to recognize several parties who approached him.  Doolittle was unconscious and his eyes were closed from the swelling caused by the wounds on his head.  Blood was oozing from his ears, nose and mouth, and he seemed to be breathing with difficulty.
At the request of their relatives they were carried home instead of to the hospital.  Examinations made of both men as yet have been of a preliminary nature.  Morris has some severe cuts and bruises, as well as the terrible wrist wound.  If he is seriously injured internally the nature of it is not yet known.  Doolittle's right jaw bone is shattered and the bones in his chin are fractured.  He seems badly hurt about the head and shoulder generally. His internal hurts, if he has any, can not as yet be determined.  Taken altogether, however, the chances are against the recovery of either.

Later - Tonight at 10:30 o'clock Walter Morris, one of the victims of the elevator accident, died.  He lapsed into unconsciousness about an hour before death.  Elmer Doolittle, the other victim is at this hour, 11 p.m., in an unconscious condition, and it is feared that he may not rally.