Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1886-02-02
Two Men Frozen to Death.


lllckman courier.
On Friday evening, Jan. 5, three
passengers, d. L. Kelley, j. +. Starr
and j. W. Warlender, arrived in
Hickman on the evening train, on
their way, as we learn, to Lake coun-
ty, Tenn. The party learning that
there was no immediate prospect for
boat down the river, concluded to
continue their journey by land on
foot. The thermometer ranging
from zero and below, and a fearful
cold snow storm and sweeping winds
prevailing was enough to have deter
red men of ordinary caution from
such venture down the banks of the
Mississippi, but this party needless of
the danger and hardships, after sup
plying themselves, it is said, with a
quantity of whisky, pushed OH in
their perllous journey and on to the
death of two of them, whilst the
third companion groped his way
helpless and insensible and was only
kept alive as if by miracle.
1t appears that the party after leav-
ing Hickman and getting below the
French gulf all the roads being Oblit-
Grated by the deep snow, lost their
way in the cold driving winds and
binding snow. They wandered long
and far into the night, and finally be-
came separated, each struggling to
find some houses or person TO give
help, aud then to signal his other
companion. Warlender found his
way to the farm of Mr.. j. Ii. Brig
gance, but was unable to reach the
house, frozen beyond sensibility. lie
was taken into the house to a big,
blazing fire, and kindly cared for by
Mr.. b. and family, and after a time
was sufficiently resuscitated to tell
about his lost comrades. The next
morning Mr.. b. got together a few
neighbors, and started out in hunt of
the two lost men, hoping of course
that they had found shelter at some
neighbor's house. After a hunt of
some hours, the bodies of the two
men were found cold and stiff in
death, near the Metz farm. 1t was
ascertained from their surviving
companion, and from papers on their
persons, that the names of the dead
persons were d. L. Kelley and j. +.
Starr.
ID. E. Kelley had on his person
one letter from Wiley Webster, a
nephew, from Pilot Point, Texas,
dated Dec. 80, 1885 one check show
ing deposit of $500 in the Pilot
Point Bank one note Of $40 on WI.
Porter, and some receipts; one heavy
finger ring with "D. E. X" engraved
inside; deck of playing cards; and
$459.55 in money. Kelly was appar-
emily 25 or 30 years old, about 5 feet
10 inches high, light hair, fair COM
plexion, red mustache and weighed
about l40 pounds.
j. +. Starr had on his person, one
bill OF sale of stock, dated Petersburg,
Va, Dec. 81, 1885, and other papers
of no value, and 1882 in money. lie
was about 45 years old, light hair,
dark sandy whiskers, right fore fin
ger off at the first joint, the next two
fingers off at second joint, and weigh
ed about 1G5 pounds.
Esquire j. j. Jones summoned q
jury Of inquest, consisting of j. A.
Briggance, j. r. Anderson, j. S.
Burney, William Willis, c. N. Brig
gance and j. Ii. Briggance, who re-
turned verdict that the deceased
came TO their death by freezing OH
the night of Jan. Sth.
The bodies were decentiy buried
and the money found on their per-
sons is held subject to order of court,
Esquire j. j. Jones administering Oh
their estates.
Warlender says that Kelley and
Starr lived in Lamar county, Texas,
and that Starr had wife and sever
al children.