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The Oregonian, Portland, OR., August 13, 1913, page 10

TREE KILLS COUPLE
Injured Man Drags Self More Than Mile to Report News
PARTY IN WAGON CRUSHED
Wahkiacus Man and Wife Die While Driving Home From The Dalles at Midnight – Forest Fire Is Cause of Fatalities

     THE DALLES, Or., Aug. 12. – (Special) -- Arthur H. Smith, who operates a sawmill at Wahkiacus, Wash., 15 miles north of the city, and his wife were almost instantly killed, and D. E. Cox, a rancher employed by Smith, was seriously injured about 12 o'clock last night, when a large tree fell on them while they were driving home from The Dalles. Cox, who was so badly crippled that he was unable to walk, dragged himself about a mile and a half to a farmhouse and reported the tragedy, a few hours later.
     Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mr. Cox passed yesterday in the city. They left here on the 5:20 o'clock ferry in the evening for Grand Dalles, from where they started on their homeward drive. They were proceeding slowly along the dark road about two miles from Wahkiacus when a large tree, which had been burned out at the bottom by a forest fire, swayed and toppled over across the road just as the three persons in the wagon reached that particular spot. The Smiths were almost instantly killed, and Cox was terribly crippled.
     Charles Smith, of the city, a brother of the slain man, left today for the scene of the accident. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are survived by a daughter and son, aged 12 and 8 years, respectively.

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., August 22, 1913, page 2

FALLING TREE KILLS TWO

Timber Valley, Wash., Aug. 20 -- Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Smith of the Plateau, on the tableland just above Wahkiacus, were crushed to death by a falling tree while returning home about 5 o'clock on the 12th of this month. The tree fell across the vehicle in which they were riding, crushing the unfortunate couple to death, one limb passing through the body of Mrs. Smith. It required three hours on the part of the neighbors to recover the bodies. Edward Cox, who was riding in the vehicle at the time of the accident, escaped with a fractured arm and a few minor bruises.
Mr. Smith was proprietor of Smith's mill at Plateau and was an energetic young man who had the esteem of his neighbors. The accident makes orphans of a little daughter and son. Funeral services were held in the Union church at Appleton, interment taking place in the cemetery there.

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., August 14, 1913, page 1

TREE FALLS ON COUPLE

A very unusual accident occurred at 2:30'clock Monday night at Wahkiacus, when Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Smith were instantly killed by a falling tree, and Ed Cox suffered a fractured arm. The couple had been to The Dalles, and Mr. Cox was driving them home. The recent fires in that vicinity had burned around a huge three-foot-tree, leaving it almost tottering. It is supposed that a slight jar of the approaching rig started it to fall, as it did, across the rig. It struck Mr. Smith, who was on the rear seat, and Mrs. Smith, who was riding with the driver. Mr. Cox was struck on the arm, breaking it, as well as knocking him senseless.
It was about 5 o'clock in the morning when Mr. Cox "came to," finding himself unhitching the horses. He went down the road a short distance for help, and the coroner and Dr. Hartley were summoned. Caskets were sent to Wahkiacus for the unfortunate couple, and the fracture was reduced for Mr. Cox.
There are two children who survive the deceased couple, aged 8 and 10 years. The Smiths had a small sawmill in the woods, by which they gained their livelihood. It is said they were not very well off financially. They have lived in that vicinity for a few years, but were not well known.