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Archiver > KYLAUREL > 1997-09 > 0873504095


From: Fred South< >
Subject: EXCERPTS from the MOUNTAIN ECHO 1899
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 20:01:35 -0400 (EDT)


FYI. Mason Lafayette Johnson is my great grandfather. He was born October
7, 1858 in Elliot or maybe Carter County, KY. He died January 27, 1954 and
was buried in Temple Hill Cemetary at Castlewood, VA.

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>From: "Gerri Sutton" <>
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>Subject: EXCERPTS from the MOUNTAIN ECHO 1899
>Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 20:06:58 -0400
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>Reprinted with permission of the Laurel County Historical Society
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>NOVEMBER 1899
>
>INSTANTLY KILLED-At about 2 o'clock last Saturday afternoon, just in front
>of the residence of Mr. John Moores, four miles east of London, Robert
>Coldwell, the eighteen year old son of Dr. T. P. Coldwell, accidentally
>discharged one barrel of the shotgun, the entire charge took effect in his
>left cheek and temple passing back and upward into the brain, producing
>instant death. No one knows, neither will anyone ever know just how it
>happened. All the known circumstances attending the sad occurrence are
>these; Robert and Lafayette Johnson had been our bird hunting and had just
>come into Mr. Moores to get a drink and after getting the water they both
>went out to the road to get their horses preparatory to returning home.
>Robert's horse was hitched neaer the gate than Lafayette's was, so Johnson
>had to pass by him to get his horse and as he passed him he was standing on
>the woodpile with his gun resting on the wood by his side. This Johnson
>says, is the last he saw of him that he went on to his horse and just as he
>was unhitching his horse he heard Robert's gun fire and when he turned to
>see what had taken place Robert was lying on the woodpile, with his gun
>gripped in his hand. Immediately Mrs. Moores ran out to see what was the
>matter, and in a few moments another lady or two came up and Johnson left
>for town to bring the news and to summon a physician. Although several
>persons came to the scene soon after the tragedy, they could not reach the
>body for about fifteen minutes after he was shot, on account of Robert's
>faithful bird dog, which stood by the body of his dead master and defied
>any stranger to approach the corpse. Immediately after learning of the
>shooting Mrs. Coldwell went as fast as her horse could carry her, to the
>aid of her unfortunate son, but arrived too late to render him any aid, as
>he was already dead. His remains were brought home and at 3 o'clock Sunday
>afternoon the funeral services were held at the Christian church by the
>pastor, Rev. J. B. Dixon and at 4 o'clock all that was mortal of Robert
>Coldwell was laid to rest in Cemetery Hill cemetery amid a host of bereaved
>relatives and other friends. A sad thing connected with the event was the
>fact that Dr. Coldweell was away from home attending some patients and did
>not learn of the awful affair until about dark. Robert Coldwell was a model
>young man, obedient to his parents, courteous and kind to all and admired
>and loved by all. He was not known to have a single bad habit; and although
>he was not a member of any church, he was a regular attendant at Sunday
>school and church services. These facts ought to be enough to console the
>bereaved relatives. He was in his nineteenth year at the time of his death,
>having been born May 28, 1881.
>
>LEG BROKEN-On last Saturday morning as Mr. M. G. Harbin, a respectable
>citizen, living about three miles west of London, was attempting to mount
>his horse, that animal being a spirited one, jumped from under him and he
>fell to the ground, breaking his right leg a little above half way from the
>knee to the thigh. He has suffered quite a great deal, but his physicians
>report that he is getting along very nicely and will soon recover.
>
>A Pineville dispatch informs us that on Middlefok, Leslie county, a few
>days ago, Chris Helton and Mart Baker engaged in a pistol duel in which
>Baker was shot and instantly killed. The circumstances of the killing were
>about as follows. The two men met in a saloon a few days previous and
>quarreled and would have fought then had not by standers prevented it. they
>both went home and armed themselves and on Friday last they met in the
>road, when both drew their pistols and fired. Baker's shot went wide of the
>mark but Helton's aim was more deadly, and his enemy fell dead at the first
>fire.
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