Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-10-20
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Joseph WeIshans Instantly Killed by the Acct
dental Discharge of Gun.

last Friday evening just before suuseV'
When, few moments after the sad
occurrence, the news flashed through
the town that Joe Welshans had been
shot and instantly killed, a feeling OF
horror pervaded the community. 1t
seemed scarcely possible that the boy
who had been on the streets an hour
before in full strength and vigor was
now corpse, whose life-blood Grim
soned the leaves and stained the
ground-that the spirit had fed and
solved the great mystery. But, hor-
rible as it was, it was only too true,
Joe Welshans, his cousin, Paul Davis,
and Lawrence Brown, son of Mr..
Michael Brown, who lives at the ce-
ment mill mile below town, were
hunting rabbits and setting snares to-
gether on the hills near the mill.
About five o'clock the three boys sat
down together on quarry hill, just
above the cement mill. They had
been examining young Browns gun,
breech-loader, and he had gotten it
back and was working at the breech OF
the weapon. Just then Joe arose from
the ground, and at the same instant by
some means the gun was discharged.
The unfortunate boy was just over the
muzzle, only foot or two away, and
the whole charge entered his throat
on the right side, tearing its way
through and emerging at the base OF
the skull. He threw up his hands and
fell to the ground, dead. His compan-
ions for few seconds did not realize
that he had been shot, and thought he
had fallen as joke But as they saw
the blood squirt from the awful wound
in great stream, the horror forced
itself upon them. Paul Davis clasped
the body in his arms, while Lawrence,
in whose hands the gun was held, was
SO overcome that he could scarcely
speak. Seeing that the poor boy was
dead. the two ran down the hill to the
nearby houses and told Of the fatal ac-
cident. The body was then taken to
the home of Mr.. Hoffman and laid on
lounge. The news was quickly
brought to town, where it created
much excitement. a number Of per-
sons at once went to the scene Of the
accident, and later the body was
brought to the home of his aunt, where
it was prepared for burial.
The funeral took place Monday
morning at 10 o'clock, the service be-
ing held in the Reformed Church, Rev.
G. G. Everhart officiating. The church
was filled to its utmost capacity. The
teachers and students Of Shepherd
College, where the deceased had at
tended school, were present in a body,
also many students Of the Graded
School, which had closed for the funeral.
Rev. Mr.. Everhart made brief adj
dress, in which he spoke most feeling
ly of the high character and the man
illness and exemplary conduct Of the
dead boy, and spoke such words of
comfort to the family as were inspired
by the Scriptures. A very impressive
feature of the service was the singing
of the hymn, "God be with you till we
meet again, by the college students,
who rendered the familiar hymn softly
and sweetly. There were few dry
eyes in the church while this hymn
was being sung. The body was buried
in the family lot in the cemetery adj
Joining the church, and after the stu
dents sang "Safe in the arms of Jesus
the large crowd slowly and solemnly
dispersed. The pall-bearers were Reg
lister Neel, Joseph Cookus, Tom KILLER,
Raymond Stotler, John Reynolds and
Charlie Reynolds. The following mem
bers of his class at school acted as an
escort and marched on either side of
the hearse, carrying flowers ]. II.
Smith, L. U. Moore, H. T. Moler, H.
w. Hammond, NJ. P. johnson, Roland
Myers, Ira Feltner, ]. H. Daniels, W.
H. Sperow, Joseph Hess, Border Stan
ley and Howard Hodges.
Joseph K. Welshans, who was if
teen years, eight months and twenty
five days old, was bright and manly
youth, with a large circle of friends,
not only among those of his own age
but among the older people. He was
the son of Mr.. J. F. Welshans, now of
Chicago, and made his home with his
aunt Miss Ellen Welshans. She had
raised him from child, having taken
him when his mother died number
of years ago. To her he was very
dear, for his helpfulness and thought
fitness were great and he assumed re-
sponsibilities beyond his years in Or
der to relieve her of care and work.
!