BRADFORD, Robert, Beeville Bee, Friday, 28 Aug 1903:

Robert BRADFORD, son of R. J. BRADFORD, one of Normanna's most prosperous 
merchants, met his death Wednesday in a sad unusual manner. While making an 
excavation for the piers of the large steel bridge which is under construction over 
the Medio bridge on the Beeville and Yorktown road and at a depth of ten feet below 
the surface of the ground the walls caved in, covering him entirely. Efforts were 
promptly made to rescue him from his living grave but death had claimed him as its 
victim before the rescue was effected. 

Deceased was a young man about 18 years of age, and leaves besides his parents, 
and one brother several who have been quite prominent in education circles in this 
county. Among his sisters is Mrs. D. F. DEATS of this city, who left for Normanna shortly 
after the receipt of the sad news. 

The remains were laid to rest in the Beeville Cemetery at 10 o'clock.