Accident at Twin Branch WV

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Very interesting story. I found it almost gruesomely amusing, the amount of detail of his injuries. Now it would be politically incorrect to publish such information. Thanks for sharing.

Bob Welsh
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 9:15 PM
  Subject: Accident at Twin Branch WV



  Hi ever one. Thought I would share his story with the list in hopes of finding more information
  on the matter. This story told by my grandfather many times to me as a young man . About
  his uncle Henry getting killed on N&W. Having a profound interest in the N&W all my life.I
  did a little research a couple years a go and found the follow article in the Bluefield paper.

   Article in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on August 13, 1907:  

   William H. Steele, fireman on Engine No. 422, was crushed to death beneath the wheels of his train at Twin Branch early Sunday morning. The train was running at a speed of about 15 miles an hour when the engine became detached from the tender hurl- ing the fireman to the track below.  A number of cars passed over his body,which was fearfully mangled, the left arm torn off at the shoulder joint, the left leg crushed off at the hip and his skull crushed in.   The remains were brought to Bluefield on No. 4 Sunday morning and prepared for burial at Crocketts under taking parlors, after which the body was removed to the home of his mother in East Graham, and from there was taken to Baptist Valley and laid to rest by the side of his father.   Mr. Steele was aged about twenty-two and for two years had been a fireman on the Pocahontas division.  He was the son of the late W. R. Steele and was reared in Tazewell County.  He was a young man of good character and was very popular with his employers.   C. W. Moss, the agent, is authority for the statement that he carried $1,500 life insurance, the policy being in the Travlers.  

   Incidentally  William Steele's mother was Nancy Virgina Claytor a distant cousin of Robert B Claytor. Any early photos of class M 422 or information would be much welcomed.

  Thanks
  Larry Evans
  Kenova, WV


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