The Independent-Herald, Hinton, West Virginia
Thursday, June 10, 1909 page 2
Saturday's Gazette says: Wade Boian, 22 years old, night telegraph operator at Spring Hill, was found dead on the C & O railroad tracks near that place at an early hour yesterday morning. It is thought that after handing an order card to the engineer of a passing westbound freight train about 1 o'clock Friday morning, he was struck by an eastbound loose engine that passed Spring Hill at the same time.
While there is little doubt as to the manner in which the young telegrapher met his death, a coroner's inquest was held to investigate the case today.
Boian was the sole occupant of the Spring Hill block tower at night and no one saw him or knew of the accident until it was suspected that something had gone wrong when other telegraph stations along the line could get no response from the station.
When repeated calls from the local signal tower failed to bring an answer a special train was hurriedly rushed to the lonely spot. All the lights were burning but the operator was not to be found.
A search along the tracks, however, revealed the mangled body of the telegrapher. His lantern and cap were found beside the track, nearly 50 feet away from the body, which had evidently been dragged along by the engine's pilot. The remains were brought to this city and taken to the Simpson undertaking establishment.
In proof of the theory that he was struck by the loose engine, the pilot of the engine which passed Spring Hill at the time of the accident was examined and found to bear large blood stains.
There is little doubt in the minds of those who found the telegrapher's body, however, that his death was purely accidental.
Boian was one of the youngest telegraphers on the road. He had just recently been transferred to the Spring Hill tower and was on duty alone at night. He was unmarried and lived in Lawrenceburg, Ky, where he was a member of Tent No 55 of the Order of Maccabees.
The remains were shipped to Lawrenceburg on No 1 this morning.
Contributor: Anonymous (48825891)
Thursday, June 10, 1909 page 2
Saturday's Gazette says: Wade Boian, 22 years old, night telegraph operator at Spring Hill, was found dead on the C & O railroad tracks near that place at an early hour yesterday morning. It is thought that after handing an order card to the engineer of a passing westbound freight train about 1 o'clock Friday morning, he was struck by an eastbound loose engine that passed Spring Hill at the same time.
While there is little doubt as to the manner in which the young telegrapher met his death, a coroner's inquest was held to investigate the case today.
Boian was the sole occupant of the Spring Hill block tower at night and no one saw him or knew of the accident until it was suspected that something had gone wrong when other telegraph stations along the line could get no response from the station.
When repeated calls from the local signal tower failed to bring an answer a special train was hurriedly rushed to the lonely spot. All the lights were burning but the operator was not to be found.
A search along the tracks, however, revealed the mangled body of the telegrapher. His lantern and cap were found beside the track, nearly 50 feet away from the body, which had evidently been dragged along by the engine's pilot. The remains were brought to this city and taken to the Simpson undertaking establishment.
In proof of the theory that he was struck by the loose engine, the pilot of the engine which passed Spring Hill at the time of the accident was examined and found to bear large blood stains.
There is little doubt in the minds of those who found the telegrapher's body, however, that his death was purely accidental.
Boian was one of the youngest telegraphers on the road. He had just recently been transferred to the Spring Hill tower and was on duty alone at night. He was unmarried and lived in Lawrenceburg, Ky, where he was a member of Tent No 55 of the Order of Maccabees.
The remains were shipped to Lawrenceburg on No 1 this morning.
Contributor: Anonymous (48825891)
The Independent-Herald, Hinton, West Virginia
Thursday, June 10, 1909 page 2
Saturday's Gazette says: Wade Boian, 22 years old, night telegraph operator at Spring Hill, was found dead on the C & O railroad tracks near that place at an early hour yesterday morning. It is thought that after handing an order card to the engineer of a passing westbound freight train about 1 o'clock Friday morning, he was struck by an eastbound loose engine that passed Spring Hill at the same time.
While there is little doubt as to the manner in which the young telegrapher met his death, a coroner's inquest was held to investigate the case today.
Boian was the sole occupant of the Spring Hill block tower at night and no one saw him or knew of the accident until it was suspected that something had gone wrong when other telegraph stations along the line could get no response from the station.
When repeated calls from the local signal tower failed to bring an answer a special train was hurriedly rushed to the lonely spot. All the lights were burning but the operator was not to be found.
A search along the tracks, however, revealed the mangled body of the telegrapher. His lantern and cap were found beside the track, nearly 50 feet away from the body, which had evidently been dragged along by the engine's pilot. The remains were brought to this city and taken to the Simpson undertaking establishment.
In proof of the theory that he was struck by the loose engine, the pilot of the engine which passed Spring Hill at the time of the accident was examined and found to bear large blood stains.
There is little doubt in the minds of those who found the telegrapher's body, however, that his death was purely accidental.
Boian was one of the youngest telegraphers on the road. He had just recently been transferred to the Spring Hill tower and was on duty alone at night. He was unmarried and lived in Lawrenceburg, Ky, where he was a member of Tent No 55 of the Order of Maccabees.
The remains were shipped to Lawrenceburg on No 1 this morning.
Contributor: Anonymous (48825891)
Thursday, June 10, 1909 page 2
Saturday's Gazette says: Wade Boian, 22 years old, night telegraph operator at Spring Hill, was found dead on the C & O railroad tracks near that place at an early hour yesterday morning. It is thought that after handing an order card to the engineer of a passing westbound freight train about 1 o'clock Friday morning, he was struck by an eastbound loose engine that passed Spring Hill at the same time.
While there is little doubt as to the manner in which the young telegrapher met his death, a coroner's inquest was held to investigate the case today.
Boian was the sole occupant of the Spring Hill block tower at night and no one saw him or knew of the accident until it was suspected that something had gone wrong when other telegraph stations along the line could get no response from the station.
When repeated calls from the local signal tower failed to bring an answer a special train was hurriedly rushed to the lonely spot. All the lights were burning but the operator was not to be found.
A search along the tracks, however, revealed the mangled body of the telegrapher. His lantern and cap were found beside the track, nearly 50 feet away from the body, which had evidently been dragged along by the engine's pilot. The remains were brought to this city and taken to the Simpson undertaking establishment.
In proof of the theory that he was struck by the loose engine, the pilot of the engine which passed Spring Hill at the time of the accident was examined and found to bear large blood stains.
There is little doubt in the minds of those who found the telegrapher's body, however, that his death was purely accidental.
Boian was one of the youngest telegraphers on the road. He had just recently been transferred to the Spring Hill tower and was on duty alone at night. He was unmarried and lived in Lawrenceburg, Ky, where he was a member of Tent No 55 of the Order of Maccabees.
The remains were shipped to Lawrenceburg on No 1 this morning.
Contributor: Anonymous (48825891)
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