A Lone Rancher, a Burning Tree, and a Fatal Crush

Nathaniel S. Drake, a rancher living near Sunnydale, was killed instantly sometime Tuesday afternoon by a falling tree. The blow fairly drove the victim into the ground and crushed him like an egg shell. Drake owned a five-acre tract and lived off it alone, growing some of the finest vegetables in the section in his garden. Being an industrious man, he kept working away at the big trees, felling them by fire. Tuesday afternoon he was burning down a tree that was 120 feet long and four feet through at the base.

Barber Chaney, Drake's nearest neighbor, heard the tree fall with a crash, but paid no attention to it, as it was a common occurrence. Yesterday morning, however, when Chaney went to call on Drake he found the cabin empty and no signs of his having been around. On investigating he found his friend's crushed and shapeless body under the tree.

The matter was reported and Deputy Greene made an investigation. The remains were parted out from under the tree, which had been broken itself in the fall, and it was found that the skull had been crushed at the back of the head, the left arm broken, the right leg smashed and all the bones fractured. One foot had been driven several inches into the ground, and the other foot had been doubled over so that it lay beside the head. The remains were brought to Bonney & Stewart's undertaking rooms.

The news of the accident was telegraphed to Drake's wife at Omaha, where he also has two daughters and a son. The body will be sent to Omaha for interment.