Henry St. Clair Kelly

1910 (1901) Death of H. C. Kelly/Kelley
Debbie (Noland) Nitsche
Diamonddeb@comcast.net
Thursday December 09, 2004 15:28:25

Headlines:
AWFUL FATE OF A CONDUCTOR
Caught in Wreck and Slowly Roasted to Death
HOOK USED TO RECOVER BODY
Charred Head and Limbs Fell from Parched Trunk of the Unfortunate Man.
REAR END FREIGHT SMASH-UP

A railroad wreck at Moundsville caused H. C. Kelly, a conductor, to meet the most horrible death imaginable. While pinned in the wreck his head lay on the hot steam chest of the engine and flames from the burning wreck roasted him and finally burned his limbs from his body. Kelley, the lone victim, was about 40 years of age and had a family. His home was at Marietta, Ohio. It was a rear end collision of two freight trains.

The caboose on the first train was telescoped and the top was lying back on the engine as far as the sand dome.

When the crew gathered and were working an inquiry was made for Kelley. The front brakeman said that he had awakened him and that he went to the depot. A messenger was sent to the depot but no trace was found of the conductor.

When the messenger returned they made a ghostly find. There was Kelley roasting in the fire. His head was on the hot steam chest of the engine that was then burning and his body was on the pilot that had already been almost burned off. Iran hooks were used to remove the burning body and when it rolled to blankets taken there to receive it the head remained on the steam chest. The limbs also fell from the charred body.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, West Virginia) December 10, 1901 Pg. 1 Col. 3

JANUARY 2005 Historical & Genealogy Newsletter for Washington County, Ohio

Washington County, Ohio
Published by Debbie Noland Nitsche
Diamonddeb@comcast.net