James Krenkel Jr.

James “Jim” Krenkel Jr. (c.1905-1937), son of James M. and Margaret Krenkel.

TRAGIC DEATH: In 1937, shortly after the coast highway opened, Jim Jr. was shot by Ernest Bauman, a troubled Russian miner who had come to the mountains in 1909. The incident began when a mining engineer’s car tires were punctured by large spikes planted in the road. Jim walked to Bauman’s place to confront him, calling “Come out Bauman, we want to talk to you.” Bauman fired from the bushes instead of responding.

Jim was taken to Cambria to a doctor but died the next day at age 32. He was buried at Cambria. Despite the clear circumstances, Bauman was acquitted at trial but never returned to the mountains. He later died in a mining tunnel in Northern California.

BURIAL: Cambria Cemetery, San Luis Obispo County, California, Plot 14-45.