The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-03

A gloom OF sorrow settled down over
this city yesterday such rs was never be-
fore known In her history. Almost every
home was saddened over the tragic death
of Mayor McClelland. He was run down
yesterday morning ut 10:40 O'Clock on
Campbell street by the Norwich car No.
ID The awful accident occurred just
above Henry street and almost directly in
front of Devon's dyeing establishment
The car was in charge of Conductor a
&. BeckDer and Motorman Sperry. A
crowd of several hundred people were
soon on the scene, including Il number of
the street railway officials. The motor
man was terribly wrought up over the
sad accident, but claimed that he did all
in his power to stop the car, but Mr. Nc
Clelland stepped directly in front and
thus to his DEATH He stated that he
rang the bell and sounded the alarm for
sufficient length of time to have warned
him, but he evidently did not hear. The
car was running ut moderate speed and
the mayor was walking directly in front
and along side of the track. and when the
cur was within four or five feet of him
started To cross the track. He did not
see the car until il was right on him
when he turned facing it, Just at that
time he was struck down. He was
the pavement. The car was then on him
and the unfortunate man was doubled up
and rolled over and over TO the distance
OF about 30 feet. Bystanders say that
the motorman did all in his power to
stop the car, but could not do so in less
space than it was brought to standstill
The mayor was picked up in an uncon-
scious condition and carried to the Office
of DIR. Jones on Henry street by j. +.
Neighhors, +. NJ. Bell, H. l.. Francis
and q. n. Foster. He did not breathe
until they had reached the corner of
Henry street several feet away.
James Devon was standing in front of
his establishment when the accident oc-
cuDred and was one of the few people
who saw it. Mr.. Devon said that Mayor
McClelland was walking down the street
and seemed to be in u deep study. He
was near the car track and at one time it
seemed as If he wanted to get OH the car.
The car was going slowly and just MS it
got to him he seemed to step on the track
directly in front of the cur.
Frank Weber and G.. f. Gray also wit.
messed the accident and reported the mat
ter in about the same manner as stnted
above. Both men say that the motorman
did all i'll his power to avert the accident.
Where the mayor was picked up Il pool
OF blood was noticed in the street, and
considerable blood was spilled along the
way to Dr. Jones Office. When he was
struck he had in his hand a bag of money
and Il check book with Il deposit slip for
Sl5.45 to he deposited to the credit of the
First Presbyterian Church. evidently be-
ing the result of the Sunday collections.
Mr.. McCeland was treasurer of this
church, and was en- route to the First
National Bank to make II deposit
Walter Lindsay also saw the accident
and Immediately went to the Office of DR..
Jones near by for medical aid Drs.
Gale, Lewis, Frye, Upton, Guerrant and
Strickland were soon on hand to render
surgical assistance. The news soon
spread through the city and IL large crowd
filled Henry street in front of the Office
of DIR. Jones for some time, anxiously
waiting some news as to the mayors con-
ditlon. 1t was soon evident to the physi-
clans that it was Il hopeless case and ONLY
Il matter of Il few hours when death
would claim him rs its victim.
The mayor was bleeding considerable
from a wound over his left eve, but
when an examination was made by DR..
Gale and the physicians assisting him. it
was found that while IL badly bruised
surface extended from the centre of the
back of his head to his left ear the most
serious of all was the fact that he was
suffering from IL fracture of the base of
the skull. This injury to the skull is not
where the blow was struck but mt the
base, which is the plate of the skull upon
which the brain rests
After doing al that could be done then
Tor him, ut 1920 O'Clock the doctors had
the unconscious man Carried on il
streteher to his home on salem avenue.
willing hands were there to assist. but
only few followed along up the street.
Upon their arrival at the residence every
thlng was done that could be to alleviate
the sutfcrings of the unfortunate man.
lie was surrounded by sorrowing friends.
Inc city officials visited the residence,
most OF the Council attended in body,
ot'C all their sympathies and sorrows
were OF no avail. He fingered along, his
pulse getting feebler and feebler as the
weary hours dragged slowly along AT
O'Clock in the afternoon the ominous
death rattle was plainly discernible. His
breathing grew heavier and shorter until
II O'Clock (midnight) when he breathed
his last.
lie was born in Bally Claire, near Bel
fast, Ireland, I'll years since He had
three sisters and five brothers., all of
whom are dead except one brother, who
still resides at his native place. He has
nephew living in this country. Others
are living in England, ireland, Scotland
and Australia. Mr.. McClelland was of
Scotch descent, his father being II linen
merchant
He removed to America when he was
Is years of age, about forty three wears
since, and first settled in Ohio, and after
attending school he taught for some time.
and when - years of age came to Vir.
ginia and settled mt Charleston, now the
capitol of West Virginia. After living
there Tor several years he came to Salem.
and then IVpDf fo C'bo+..,o