Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald Telephone, March 3, 1951, p. 7. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as noted by the ellipsis. It was a lengthy review of material from the March 30, 1903, issue of the Bloomington Evening World and was contributed by Bennett P. Reed. ..A large portion of the front page is devoted to the tragic death of Robert Bruce Lockridge, an IU athlete, who was accidentally killed by Coach James H. Horne, then athletic director at Indiana. The accident occurred in Louisville, Ky., and resulted from a misdirected hammer throw made by Coach Horne at a track team practice session. .James H. Horne will be remembered by our older town and University people. He took up his coaching duties about the year 1893 at the age of 28. He was a graduate of Bowdoin and came to Indiana University from New Hampshire. Robert Bruce Lockridge entered Indiana University in 1899 and had been under Coach Horne's supervision throughout his college course. He and Coach Horne became close friends. Lockridge was an all-round athlete, being a member of the football, baseball and track teams.Lockridge was also president of the IU Athletic Association and of his class. Like many other students attending Indiana University, young Lockridge was making his own way. His ambition was to secure a degree. To accomplish this, he saw the necessity of earning extra means for continuing his studies. Down in Louisville, the Male High School track team athletes were striving to prepare themselves for the coming May track meet. There was an opening for a track coach, and Coach Horne was asked to recommend someone to fill the position. Lockridge's name was at once given.Lockridge was chosen upon Coach Horne's recommendation. Although Robert Bruce Lockridge was a track man of rare ability, he was no expert in the hammer throw and shot put events. Coach James H. Horne was well versed in these two sports and had shown his prowess in his college years. Seeing the need of a man to coach the high school boys in their training for the hammer throw and shot put, Lockridge induced Coach Horne to come to Louisville. Arriving in Louisville, Coach Horne.went to the athletic field. About 20 boys were on the field.Some were practicing.Horne began his instruction.Lockridge, the news story brings out, was not so far away showing a candidate for the discus throw how to handle the object and effectively release it. Coach Horne, at the same time, was swinging a 12-pound hammer in a demonstration before a group of athletes. It was evident the coach intended to land the hammer in an out of the way open part of the field. Instead of going in the desired direction, the hammer flew wide of its mark. It sped directly toward Lockridge and the boys he was coaching. From several spectators arose a cry of warning. Instinctively, Lockridge raised his head and, as he did so, the hammer dealt him a crashing blow on the skull. Upon rushing to his side, Prof. St. Clair saw immediately he was severely injured and realized Lockridge could not live.Dr. T. Garland Sherrill was quickly summoned to attend him. Upon hasty examination, the doctor ordered the stricken athlete taken to Norton Infirmary, but he died before reaching there. When Coach Horne realized what he had done, he lost all reason and became crazed with grief. He ran wildly about the practice grounds and finally darted through a gate with several in pursuit. It was now clear the coach was bent upon self-destruction.The crazed coach, after having been subdued, sank to the ground exhausted. When night came, Coach Horne was in a state of nervous collapse. He was placed in charge of Dr. E. O. Holland and members of the relay team from Indiana University.Later that night, Coach Horne had revived sufficiently to leave for his home in Bloomington. The remains of 22-year-old Coach Lockridge were prepared for burial at a Louisville mortuary and held pending word from the Lockridge family. The deceased's parents lived in Roann, a small town near Peru, Indiana. The family was notified and, also a brother, Prof. Ross Lockridge of Peru High School and who now lives in Bloomington. Coroner Kelley returned a verdict of death by unavoidable accident. Coach James H. Horne was blamed by no one for the fatal accident.