The Morning Union Grass Valley, California Saturday February 21, 1903 Page 4
FORFEITED LIFE FOR CHILDREN
Tragic Death of Mrs. Benjamin Alpers.
Climbed to Lofty Heights of Pine Tree for Nuts for Her Children, When Limb Broke, Precipitating Her to the Ground Below.
While endeavoring to please the childish fancy of her three children, Mrs. Benjamin Alpers, a loving mother, Thursday afternoon forfeited her life. The unfortunate woman fell from the lofty branches of a tall pine tree, whither she had climbed to secure some pine nuts for her children, a distance estimated to be anywhere from thirty to fifty feet, sustaining injuries that caused her death fifteen minutes later.
The fatal accident occurred near Shady Creek about 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon. The facts were brought to this city yesterday morning.
Mrs. Alpers was in Nevada City during the day for the purpose of purchasing some supplies and incidentally visiting a few friends. Concluding her business, she, together with her three small children, started for their home near Montezuma Hill. Mrs. Alpers took great interest in the little ones and when near Shady Creek one of the tots expressed a desire to have some pine nuts, pointing to a pine burr in the uppermost branches of a tall pine tree.
Anxious to please, the loving mother tied her team at the side of the road and without ceremony proceeded to climb the tree. From limb to limb she carefully made her way until she was almost within reach of the coveted pine burr. Then, according to reports of the excited children, who were horrified witnesses to their mother’s death, the woman began to crawl out on one of the branches of the tree, when without warning, the limb broke, and with a startled cry she came crashing to the ground, striking with the greatest force on her head.
The frightened children as quickly as possible notified some nearby residents and Dr. E. A. Victors of North San Juan was notified, arriving on the scene with all possible haste, but Mrs. Alpers passed away within fifteen minutes of the terrible accident.
An examination disclosed the fact that the body was broken and battered as a result of the fall, the skull being crushed, three ribs broken, the collar bone fractured and one leg shattered. In all probability the injury on the head was received first, thus rendering Mrs. Alpers unconscious and sparing her the awful agony she would have otherwise experienced. Coroner Hocking took charge of the remains.
Mrs. Alpers was born in Nevada county, being a daughter of Patrick Muller, a well known resident of the San Juan Ridge. She was about thirty years of age. Several years ago she was married to Benjamin Alpers, three children being the result of that union, which did not prove to be a happy one, Mrs. Alpers being divorced from her husband a few months ago. Since that time and until her time of her death, she resided with her children near Montezuma Hill, making a brave and uncomplaining effort to provide for them.
Her untimely and tragic death has deprived the little ones of a kind and loving mother. The children in all probability will be cared for by relatives. [#47902656]

Mary Alpers surviving children:
Benjamin Francis Alpers (1897-1967)
Hazel Pearl Alpers (1899-1978)
Mabel M. Alpers (1901-1925)