Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-09
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

+. @. KeItOn Fla Is from the Third
story of the Gwynno BlOck-htS
Body DTeadfully Mangled-Slight
Hopes that he Can Long survive.
1t falls to our lot to record this morning
one of the most distressing accidents that
has occurred in our city for many years.
The subject of the terrible misfortune to
which we allude was Mr.. +. c. Kelton,
well known dry goods merchant of this city,
OF the firm of Kelton, Bancroft & Co.
Recently, Mr.. Kelton went on a journey
to Mississippi, and brought home the re-
mains of his son, Lieut.. Oscar d. Kelton,
who was killed at the battle at Guntown,
in that State, in June, 1868. While in that
part of the country, he was compelled to
ride in a lumber wagon over rough road.
In passing over n gully, Mr.. Ke!tcn, who
was sitting in chair, was thrown sudden
ly backward, injuring the back part of his
head. He has been subject to occasional
seasons of fainting and dizziness ever since.
Early Tuesday morning, Mr. Kelton
came to the store of the firm in the Gwyhne
Block, soon after 1t was opened. He spoke
to Mr.. Il. G.. Field, member of the firm,
about painting the roof, and after CONVERSE
tion on that subject they concluded to go
upon the roof and examine it. Proceeding
to the floor of the third story, by means of
small ladder, they ascended through a
transom, and spent some time upon the
roof. When they were ready to return,
Mr. Field directed a young man who was
with them, to 90 down and hold the foot of
the ladder, while he (Mr. Field would
steady it at the top. This being done, Mr..
Kelton descended the ladderin safety. Mr..
Field then came down the ladder, and as
soon as he reached the floor of the third
story, he saw Mr.. Kelton leaning forward
out of an open window on the north side,
or rear of the building, and apparently sus-
tanning himself by his left arm.
The suppositiOn is that Mr.. Kelton feel
ing faint and dizzy from his eXertion on the
roof, had gone to the window for fresh air.
Mr.. Field, as soon as he saw him at the
window in the position described, at once
comprehended the danger, and calling to
the young man that Mr.. Kelton was leaning
out at the window, and would certainly
fall, sprang quickly forward over boxes
and other impediments toward the spot
where Mr.. Kelton was standing. But ere
he could reach him, the unfortunate man
fell IRON the third story window into the
alley in the rear of the block.
The indications are that he must have
used some exertions to prevent his fall
The marks where his shoes scraped the
brick wall of the building are visible in
several places. A pane of glass in a win
dow in the second story was broken by his
striking against it in his fall. He struck
the ground in the alley some six or seven
feet from the building. His head was badly
cut and bruised, leaving blood upon the
ground where itstruck, though lis thought
the skull is not fractured. His left thigh
bone was fractured and broken into several
pieces, two of which were taken out soon
after the accident. The right leg was net
injured. The right arm was broken in two
places above the elbow and at the wrist
The left arm was also broken at the wrist.
Mr.. Kelton remained in an insensible con-
dltion for some hours after this terrible ac-
cident; but by the middle of the day he
partially recovered the use of his mental
faculties, so as to converse pretty freely and
nationally with his family and attendants.
His attending physicians are Drs. Loving
and Gay, who, we learn, decided that am
putation of any of his broken limbs was
not advisable at present, and that but little
hope can be entertained that he will long
survive.
Mr. Kelton is fifty-four years of age, and
has wife and five children living. He is a
native of Vermont. and came from Mont
pelier, in that State, to this city in 1888,
where he commenced merchandising. He
has been in the mercantile business ever
since, and is highly esteemed as business
man and citizen.