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Idaho County Free Press Thursday, July 27, 1911 DIE ON LONG RIDE - Mother and Babe Pass Away on Journey to Mountains DAUGHTER OF J. COVERLEY - Gruesome Ride From Mining Camp Ends in Death of Two Eighteen days after she had gone to the Snowstorm mine, in the Elk City mining district, 60 miles from a railroad to visit her father. Mrs. Fae Bergen, 17 years old, young wife of Harry Bergen of Hillyard, Wash. was taken seriously ill and on Monday was brought to Stites a corpse with an infant to which she had given birth on the road. The remains of mother and baby were shipped to Hillyard this morning. The father of Mrs. Bergen, Joe Coverley, was divorced several years ago from her mother, who is Mrs. Maud Shimrock of Hillyard. Mrs. Bergen wrote twice to her folks at Hillyard, telling them that she was ill and urging them to come to her in Idaho county. When it was seen that her condition was critical it was decided to take her to Hillyard and her father and husband drove with her and her first-born child of 17 months to Elk City, where it was decided she could stand the trip, 52 miles to Stites. The start was made Sunday morning. About one fourth of a mile before reaching the stage station at Newsome the birth occurred and the mother died about one hour after. In the meanwhile telephone messages were sent to Hillyard. Mrs. Shimrock, accompanied by another daughter, Mrs. Grace McCoombe, and little daughter of the latter, being advised by a man "who knew the country," that Stites was only 60 miles from Spokane, left Spokane Saturday night in an automobile, believing that by this means they could reach that place in time to see Mrs. Bergen alive. Stites is 200 miles from Spokane and when the automobile broke down at Rosalia, Wash., they were compelled to await the coming of the train the next day before resuming their journey. The Hillyard party reached Stites at 6 o'clock Sunday evening and immediately after dinner left by wagon in the direction of Newsome and Elk City. They met Mr. Coverley and Mr. Bergen bringing out the dead bodies at the switchback, where there is a stage station, and the united parties drove into Stites together Monday morning. |
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