Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-05-23
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Rev. n. n. Kennedy and His Wife Killed by the
Cars at Browns Crossing.

record IN this county was tnat winch
happened last Sunday afternoon at
Browns Crossing and resulted in the
fatal injury of Rev. H. Fl. Kennedy,
pastor of the Southern Methodist
church OF Charles Town, and the in,
slant death of his wife.
The particulars of the shocking az
fair are as follows: Mr.. and Mrs. Ken
nedy had driven from Charles Town
to the village of Bsrdane, half mile
or SO above Shenandoah Junction,
where Mr.. Kennedy had la regular ap-
pointment to conduct the service. At
the conclusion of the service they got
in their buggy to return home. Just
as they reached the crossing of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad they met
some of the members of the church,
and Mr.. Kennedy stopped his team to
speak to them. After few moments
conversation some one called out that
the train was coming, and looking up
the road the second section Of train
No. 6, the Chicago express, was seen
coming down the track at terrific
speed. Just what followed is not
clearly understood, as the statements
are conflicting. One story'is that Mr..
Kennedy attempted to quickly cross
the track, another is that his wife seized
the reins in her fright and caused
a balk, and still another that the horse
bolted of its own accord. At any rate
it was only a few seconds from the
time the alarm had been given until
the locomotive had struck the horse
with frightful impact, killed it, smashed
the buggy and hurled the occupants
into the air with force that meant
death.
Mrs. Kennedy was instantly killed.
Her head was split in two sections by
contact with a crosstle against which
she had been hurled, and her arms
were entirely dislocated. Mr.. Ken
nedy was still living, and the horri-
fed spectators tenderly picked him up
and carried him to the side of the
track, where lay the body Of his wife.
The train ran nearly to the Junction
before it was stopped, but was quickly
backed to the scene Of the accident.
Its work had been done, however, and
after few moments delay it proceed
ed on it's way. The accident occurred
at 4.47 o'clock.
Physicians were summoned and
every attention given Mr.. Kennedy.
He was removed to Shenandoah juno
ton, where he was cared for at Mrs.
Browns. His injuries were frighttul.
Four of his ribs were broken, his col
ar-bone was fractured, gaping hole
was punched through his arm, be had
several severe cuts and bruises about
his face and head, and his skull was
fractured at the base. In addition he
sustained serious internal injuries. He
waa kept at Shenandoah Junction I'M
til Monday morning, when he was
taken to Charles Town on the train.
Mrs. Kennedys body had been pre-
pared for burial and removed to her
home Sunday night.
Mr.. Kennedy never rsgained con-
seriousness after he was struck by the
train. His sufferings were intense
and be moaned aloud continually from
the pain. All that surgery and medi-
cal science could do was done for him,
but he had been so badly hurt that it
was seen from the first that he could
not recover. He fingered until $40
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, when his
spirit returned to the God who gave
it. The shocking accident and the two
resulting deaths cast gloom over
Charles Town, and indeed was great
shock to the people in every section of
the county.
Rev. Mr.. Kennedy, who was "a
years Of age, was native Of Baltimore.
He Joined the Baltimore Conference in
1868 and served in Baltimore, Staun-
ton, Leesburg and Loudoun county
and Winchester. He was transferred
to Florida in 1881 and stationed at
Tallahassee and jacksonville, where
he remained seven years. Returning
in 1888, he has served in Martinsburg,
Arlington, Woodstock and Charles
Town, this being his third year at the
latter place. He was an able minister
and popular gentleman, having a
firm hold on the affections Of his par
ishioners and respected and admired
by all who knew him. He was liberal
and charitable to marked degree.
He was an attractive speaker in the
pulpit and beloved as pastor. Gen
ial and intelligent and companionable,
he made friends wherever he went.
He was twice married. By his first
wife he has one son, student at Ran
dolph-Macon College, and four daugh-
tiers. Two of his daughters live in
Baltimore, one of whom is connected
with John. Hopkins University, hav-
ing graduated in medicine in Germany.
Two other daughters have been study
ing in Hartford, Conn, where they
take the Phi. D. degree this year. All
of them came home at once when no.
tilted of the accident.
Mrs. Kennedy was native Of Bal
timore and was so years old. Her
maiden name was Jones and she was
first married to Mr.. Collins. She
was an excellent woman and had the
esteem of all who knew her. The
Charles Town Free Press says Of her:
Mrs. Kennedy was in every sense a
/ I-,a -, 1 faithful balppnata q modal