Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-12-02
c. WILLIS HODGES KILLED.
Crushed by the Cars in Shepherdstown
tuesday Afternoon.

Tuesday Afternoon.
Mr.. c. Willis Hodges, well-known
farmer and stock dealer OF Berkeley cotirl-
ty. was crushed to death in Shepherds
town Tuesday afternoon by train on the
Norfolk & Western Railway. The whole
community was terribly shocked by
the news of the dreadful accident, by
which the life of native OF this place was
so suddenly ended. Mr.. Hodges, VINO
lived on the Morgan VanMetre farm in
Berkeley county at the stone bridge over
the Opeouon creek, on the MartinSourg
and Shepherdstown road, came TO Shep-
herdstown during the afternoon. About
four O'Clock he drove to the elevator OF
the Hodges estate, opposite the paSSen-
ger depot, to attend to some business.
The regular shifter freight train, with en-
gineer Tanner on the engine and Con-
ductor Thomas Davis in charge was stand
ing on the track a short distance below
the crossing at the elevator. Mr.. Hodges
was talking with Charles Clark, colored,
an employee, and started TO drive across
the railroad just as the train began to
back. VIM. H. Crowl, who also works
at the elevator, saw the danger and
shouted a warning, when Clark ran to the
team and made desperate effort TO avert
the accident. He was too late, however,
for while the horse crossed in safety, the
caboose struck the buggy squarely and
upset ii upon the track and then ran over
it, smashing it TO pieces. Mr.. Hodges
had no opportunity to jump, and when
the buggy was thrown under the train he
was still in it. The cabooSe and one
freight car passed over his body. The
train was stopped almost immediately
and the unfortunate man was extrlcated
from the wreckage by persons who were
near and who had witnessed the accident.
He was unconscious, and it was seen that
he was terribly hurt. He was carried
into the waiting room OF the station and
physicians were Immediately summoned.
DR.. Banks, Burwell and Meyers re-
sponded at once and made an eXamlna-
ton, but soon found that his injuries were
fatal. The wheels had passed across the
lower part OF his body, crushing it and
one OF his hips, both feet were ground
off, an arm was mangled, and there were
other mutilationS. He fingered for about
half hour, when he expired. The body
was then taken to the undertaking rooms
of r. S. M. Hoffman and prepared for
burial, and afterWard was removed to the
home of his mother, Mrs. Josephine
Hodges. A distressing feature OF the oc-
currence was the absence from town OF
his mother and two sisters, who were
spending the day in Hagerstown, and
who did notreach home until $50 O'Clock.
Mr.. Hodges, who was 81 years OF age,
was a son of the late q. I. Hodges, and
was born and reared in ShepherdStown.
He assisted in the management OF the
grain elevators OF his father until he went
into business for himself. As a stock
dealer he became well known in both
Jefferson and Berkeley counties. Some
time after his marriage to Miss Eva Miller,
of Berkeley county, he farmed the Van
Metre place, residing there until his
death. The deceased was agood business
man and had many excellent qualities. His
wife, who was most estimable woman.
died less than two weeks ago, having
passed away on November 10Th in a hos
pital in Martnsburg Four dear little girls,
the eldest OF whom is eight years OF age,
are thus bereft OF mother and father with
in couple OF weeks. Besides his four
daughters and his mother, the deceased
is survived by the following brothers and
sisters Samuel J. Hodges, Walter B.
Hodges, Mrs. D. B. Lucas and Miss Fran
ceS Hodges, OF ShepherdStown; T. Ross
Hodges, OF Hagerstown Geo. T. Hodges,
of the U. S. Army, Whipple Barracks,
Arizona; DR.. Howard Hodges, OF Har-
pers Ferry. The family have the deep
sympathy OF their many friends in this
section, and the hearts OF our people 90
out in especial tenderness to the little
girls who are now fatherleSS and mother
less.
The funeral service was held this morn
ing at the home of the mother OF the de-
ceased, Mrs. Josephine Hodges, in Shep-
herdStown. The service was conducted by
Rev. Father FaIlon, OF the Catholic Church
OF Martnsburg, after which the body was
taken to that place for burial in Green
Hill Cemetery.