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From: "Gerri Sutton" <>
Subject: [KYLAUREL-L] Excerpts from The Mt. Echo 1904 (19)
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 16:29:01 -0400


Reprinted with permission of the Laurel Co Historical Soc.
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JANUARY 29, 1904

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

Last Monday evening as he was on his way home, driving in a two horse wagon,
Mr. Charles Godsey was run down by the South-bound passenger train at the
Sublimity crossing at this place and instantly killed. At the time the train
struck him the wagon was directly across the track and the bed was smashed
to pieces. The wagon was broke in the middle and half went on one side and
half on the other side, breaking the coupling poll, tongue, one wheel and
did considerable other damage besides tearing up the bed. what seemed queer
about the wreck was that one horse was killed and the other one was not
damaged. Mr. Godsey, was thrown into the air and went clear over the pilot,
his head hitting the end of the left cylinder, crushing the skull and
breaking his neck. A large crowd gathered around viewing the wreck, some
telling how it happened for several children that were on their way home
from school saw it and some telling how it could have been prevented.
The body was placed in the baggage car and taken to the depot where it was
placed in the waiting room and soon afterward removed to the Jackson Hotel
to be prepared for burial. The funeral was conducted at Mr. Godsey's home,
some miles South of town, by Rev. Stump and the remains were laid to rest in
the Catching graveyard on Tuesday a host of sorrowing friends attending. Mr.
Godsey was 53 years old and was a kind hearted and respected citizen. He
leaves a wife and two children. Mrs. J. M. Stanifer and Cleveland Godsey who
have the sympathy of many friends. No one knows just how this accident
occurred but it is thought that Mr. Godsey, who is a little hard of hearing
failed to hear the crossing signal and was not aware of the approaching
danger. The first thing the engineer noticed was the horses heads coming
over the track, the balance being hidden from his view by the engine and he
at once blew the caution signal, but no sooner was this done than the awful
crash came. The train came to a standstill as soon as possible, but could
not be stopped until it had gone some distance on account of the fast motion
of the train.




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