Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
February 28, 1903
Martinsburg Herald
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Unidentified 29-year-old Irish man found frozen to death in snow bank along B&O tracks near Vancleaveville, Berkeley County, after likely being struck by train and breaking his arm. Last seen heading east post-breakfast at local barn; buried unidentified in Green Hill cemetery.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
FOUND FROZEN TO DEATH
Along the B. & O. Tracks This Morning By Track Foreman.
HIS IDENTITY IS NOT KNOWN
Thought to be the Same Man That Passed the Opequon Target Friday Evening Intoxicated.
An unknown man was found Saturday morning lying along the B. and O. tracks about one mile east of Vancleaveville frozen to death. The body was lying in a drifting snow bank near the track when Foreman Baker discovered it about 8 o'clock. The B. and O. officials in this vicinity were at once notified and left on the helper engine for the scene.
It was first thought that he had been struck by a train during the night but upon examination it was found that he had sat down in the snow at night. When it was reported that a body had been found, the engineer on one of the engines that works on the nine mile hill, reported that he had seen what he thought to be the body of a person last night while passing that point, and stopped the engine, but after a lengthy search the body could not be found, so he thought he had been mistaken until he learned that the body had been found.
The operator at the Opequon target also reported that a man had passed there last evening in a heavily intoxicated condition and from the description he gave, this is the same man.
It has not yet been decided what will be done with the body. If the place where he was found is in this county he will be brought here but if across the county line it will be taken in charge by the Jefferson county officials. As the officials from here have not returned it is not known who will take charge of the body.
The man seems to be a stranger in this community, as there has been no one who has yet identified him.
LATER.
The body was found to be in Berkeley county and was brought to this city on one of the helper engines and taken to Wilson's undertaking establishment where the inquest was held, as the coroner had been notified.
He was a man about 5 foot 6 inches in height and weighed about 135 pounds. He had light hair and short light mustache. He had on very respectable clothes and in no way had the appearance of a tramp.
REMAINS NOT IDENTIFIED.
The man who was found on Saturday morning near Vanclevesville frozen to death, is still at Wilen's Undertaking establishment unidentified.
There was nothing on his person that he could be identified by, he having only a pipe and a sack of tobacco in his pockets. There were no letters nor anything that would throw the slightest light on who he was or where he was from.
The remains were examined by Dr. S. N. Myers late Saturday evening and it was found that his left arm was broken near the elbow. This in no way caused his death, as death was due to exposure, he being very lightly clad for traveling this kind of weather.
The coroner was called but as the circumstances surrounding his death were so plain, it was deemed that an inquest was unnecessary.
It was reported Saturday that the man was thought to be the same one that passed the Opequon target in an intoxicated condition, but this proved incorrect, as the man who passed the target was seen later. The man that was found, is about 29 years of age and of Irish nationality. He spent Monday night in the barn belonging to Mr. McKee, near Vanclevesville and about a quarter of a mile from where he was found. Mr. McKee gave him his breakfast Tuesday morning and he left, stating that he was on his way east. This was the last seen of him, until identified by Mr. McKee as being the same man that he gave breakfast to on Tuesday morning.
It is thought that he was walking along the track when struck by an east bound train, and knocked into the snow and there he remained, he being helpless with his arm broken. It is presumed the snow gradually drifted over him until it completely covered the man and of course he froze. A hat was found near the place on Wednesday morning and as he wore none when found, it is thought to have been his.
When he was first discovered there was nothing but a foot protruding from the snow but when examined it was found that the shoe belonged to a man. The snow had to be shoveled off before he could be examined.
Although many persons have examined the remains they have not yet been identified and it is probable that he never will be as he is a stranger in this community.
The funeral of the unknown man took place Tuesday at 3 o'clock p. m. Interment in Green Hill cemetery.
Along the B. & O. Tracks This Morning By Track Foreman.
HIS IDENTITY IS NOT KNOWN
Thought to be the Same Man That Passed the Opequon Target Friday Evening Intoxicated.
An unknown man was found Saturday morning lying along the B. and O. tracks about one mile east of Vancleaveville frozen to death. The body was lying in a drifting snow bank near the track when Foreman Baker discovered it about 8 o'clock. The B. and O. officials in this vicinity were at once notified and left on the helper engine for the scene.
It was first thought that he had been struck by a train during the night but upon examination it was found that he had sat down in the snow at night. When it was reported that a body had been found, the engineer on one of the engines that works on the nine mile hill, reported that he had seen what he thought to be the body of a person last night while passing that point, and stopped the engine, but after a lengthy search the body could not be found, so he thought he had been mistaken until he learned that the body had been found.
The operator at the Opequon target also reported that a man had passed there last evening in a heavily intoxicated condition and from the description he gave, this is the same man.
It has not yet been decided what will be done with the body. If the place where he was found is in this county he will be brought here but if across the county line it will be taken in charge by the Jefferson county officials. As the officials from here have not returned it is not known who will take charge of the body.
The man seems to be a stranger in this community, as there has been no one who has yet identified him.
LATER.
The body was found to be in Berkeley county and was brought to this city on one of the helper engines and taken to Wilson's undertaking establishment where the inquest was held, as the coroner had been notified.
He was a man about 5 foot 6 inches in height and weighed about 135 pounds. He had light hair and short light mustache. He had on very respectable clothes and in no way had the appearance of a tramp.
REMAINS NOT IDENTIFIED.
The man who was found on Saturday morning near Vanclevesville frozen to death, is still at Wilen's Undertaking establishment unidentified.
There was nothing on his person that he could be identified by, he having only a pipe and a sack of tobacco in his pockets. There were no letters nor anything that would throw the slightest light on who he was or where he was from.
The remains were examined by Dr. S. N. Myers late Saturday evening and it was found that his left arm was broken near the elbow. This in no way caused his death, as death was due to exposure, he being very lightly clad for traveling this kind of weather.
The coroner was called but as the circumstances surrounding his death were so plain, it was deemed that an inquest was unnecessary.
It was reported Saturday that the man was thought to be the same one that passed the Opequon target in an intoxicated condition, but this proved incorrect, as the man who passed the target was seen later. The man that was found, is about 29 years of age and of Irish nationality. He spent Monday night in the barn belonging to Mr. McKee, near Vanclevesville and about a quarter of a mile from where he was found. Mr. McKee gave him his breakfast Tuesday morning and he left, stating that he was on his way east. This was the last seen of him, until identified by Mr. McKee as being the same man that he gave breakfast to on Tuesday morning.
It is thought that he was walking along the track when struck by an east bound train, and knocked into the snow and there he remained, he being helpless with his arm broken. It is presumed the snow gradually drifted over him until it completely covered the man and of course he froze. A hat was found near the place on Wednesday morning and as he wore none when found, it is thought to have been his.
When he was first discovered there was nothing but a foot protruding from the snow but when examined it was found that the shoe belonged to a man. The snow had to be shoveled off before he could be examined.
Although many persons have examined the remains they have not yet been identified and it is probable that he never will be as he is a stranger in this community.
The funeral of the unknown man took place Tuesday at 3 o'clock p. m. Interment in Green Hill cemetery.
What sub-type of article is it?
Tragedy
Mystery
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Frozen Death
Unidentified Man
B&O Tracks
Vancleaveville
Train Strike
Broken Arm
What entities or persons were involved?
Unknown Man
Foreman Baker
Mr. Mckee
Dr. S. N. Myers
Where did it happen?
Along The B. & O. Tracks About One Mile East Of Vancleaveville, Berkeley County
Story Details
Key Persons
Unknown Man
Foreman Baker
Mr. Mckee
Dr. S. N. Myers
Location
Along The B. & O. Tracks About One Mile East Of Vancleaveville, Berkeley County
Event Date
Saturday Morning
Story Details
An unidentified man of Irish nationality, about 29 years old, was found frozen to death in a snow bank along the B&O tracks near Vancleaveville. He had a broken left arm, likely from being struck by a train, and was last seen heading east after breakfast at Mr. McKee's barn on Tuesday morning. His body was unidentified, and he was buried in Green Hill cemetery on Tuesday.