The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-30
VIII Go to CALIFORNIA; in Spite OF
Her injuries.
THE OLD LaBY'S EXPERIENCE
Assae was ssartiaR on Long Journey
with Her Famliy-Fcli from this Train
In the snow and NOT sris~d untll She
was Lsn Many Miles Enthusiastically
Raiiroad oHisiaIs.

Journey. She has had her hardship,
People who lived near the Kellnr
farm In Michigan we're surprised when
they heard that the family had sold the
place and expected TO so west. Grand
pm KelInr was 70 years old, Grandma
i've years younger. and they had lived
there for a great niuny years. They
wanted milder climate for their de-
ciining years. John, the eldest son.
thought that the climate OF southern
California was the ideal place, and the
rest all agreed.
John Is IS years old. He and his wife
Mary are blessed with divers
and sundry good children, the
smallest OF whom is baby.
Sarah, 1ohn's sister. is u widow, with
two or three children. and her health Is
not good. William, Johns brother, Is
still bachelor. and he Joined the ma
torIty and voted for California.
Grandpa Rellar had done well In
Michigan and he did not lack means TO
do what he wanted 20 do The decis-
ion once made there was no time lost
A buyer was found for the farm. The
stock was sold mt auction, and all the
property except the household treas
ures which were to be taken west, was
converted Into cash.
Neighbors who were heartily Inter
ested In all the dotngs of the KeliaFs,
were liberal with their advice. Every
one who had friend in California OF
feSed information. Requests for cir,
culars were sent to n number OF land
agents. Advertisements OF big dams
and irrigation bitches and artes!an
well propositions and cheap excursions
and enormous profits per acre filled
their mail Finally the agent who
made the most reasonable and modest
claims sold them his land. The desti-
nation was settled. The day for the
start wns lxed
Wanted Drink Of Water
Grandpa and Grandma EeIlnr felt n
little nervous over the journey. AS to
the outcome they had no fear. for WILL
lam had gone on ahead and his letters
from California were glowing, The
Kellnrs were to be members OF per
sonAliy conducted" party which was TO
start from Chicago. and every comfort
for the journey had been provided.
One night about midnight, the train
from Detroit TO Chicago stopped at a
little station In southern Michigan and
the KellarS got aboard. They consider
cd the journey a short one, measured by
ed the idea OF taking u sleeper. The
chair car offered them very comfortable
quarters. It didn't take them very
long 30 get settled. The second genera
ton and the third generation scattered
about through the car wherever single
seats could be found. 1ohn took pains
10 provide grandpa and grandma with
seats together. and quietness was over
of.
Grandma felt fldgety. Her feet hurt,
and she took on her shoes. Her dress
waist was uncomfortable, Tho lights
In the car were low and she slipped Il
Oh, wrapping her shawl about her to
be warm enough. Orr hour and then
another went by. Grandma KellaE
wanted n drink OF water. She stumbled
over Grandpafs outsretched foot. and
entered the aisle. She was nervous, her
head swan with the motion OF the car,
but she trudged brayely on till she
reached the rear door. There was no
water cooler In sight. Grandma had
q faint remembrance OF water tank
Just outside the door. She stepped over
the threshold, drew the door shut, and
she has never been hblc TO tell Just what
happened then.
She Is Missed.
1t was about o'clock in the morning
when John awoke from n troubled
dream, He aroused himself and decid-
ed to 80 back to see how the old people
were resting. When he reached the
chairs where he had left them grandpa
was snoring In n half-heaTte1 why.
But grandma wns not there.
where's MOTHER" John asked, as he
took his fs.ther by the arm.
Grnn1na Ot1pnnH hfq aypg and tnOkpi
around into the empty chair beside him.
II thought she was herc;I don't know
where she is," he replied, weakly.
John was worried. He looked In ev-
cry seat in the car and did not flnd his
mother He reused all the rest OF the
family, and then the other passengers,
but no one knew anything about the old
lady. The conductor and a brakeman
came
81 know every one who has left the
train at stations" said the former
She hasn't got on
This seemed 10 be proved by the shoes
ana she dress waist which were found.
Every car from tender TO rear sleeper
was searched. but fruitlessly.
Then the conductor went with his
lantern and examined the rear plat
form OF the chnir car. 4 light snow
had fallen for an hour after midnight
and then stopped. In the anow were
the two footsteps, and then a space
brushed hare, from step to step, down
one side. That was oil.
Grandma kellar had fallen from thp
train.
The hearts OF the Kciinr family were
heavy when the ttIlin drew up at the
next station and they Gcsccndcd They
feared never to sec grandma alive
again.
TeleFTams were sent out by the train
officials 10 every station that had been
passed aud to all trains that were fol-
lowing, to be on the lookout for the old
lady. Another message was sent TO tho
Chicago officials Of the road, ana under
their instruction an engine and car
started back from the nearest dlvision
station TO find the lost one.
Ate o'clock. as dawn was breaking. a
train was running slowly toward Chi
cngo. the engineer ahd fireman, each Of
whom had an old mother OF his own.
keeping careful watch. In Snow
drift Mt the bottom OF slight cmbnnk-
mcnt the fireman saw signs OF fall.
Down the .embaHkmeHt was furrpw
NJ II some ono had slid through the
snow.
He warned the man Mt the throttle
md speed was leHsencd. Around n
curve, 200 yards ahead, caught In IL cat.
tic guard where the track crossed II
fence. was Grandma Kolinr hair uncon-
scious.
The trnihmon made her az camfeFta-
BILE us possible during the rest OF the
run. Thirty mites further on the other
members Of the family boarded the
train and haAtcned 10 sec grandma.
Don't worry. father" ahc said. IN
be nll right and ~ to California yet"
But they were touhtfpl
Well Cared For.
When the train reached Chicago the
finest ambulance In the city, thor