The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-02-11
WALTER CLIMBER
MEETS DEATH IN
COLUMBIA YARDS
FALLS BETWEEN THE CARS AND
HAS ARM AND LEG
CUT OFF.
FIRST TRIP ON DECATUR DIVISION
Removed To Union Depot, Where ne
Died at Early Hour-0isplayed he-
markabIe Nerve to the Very Last
said he Wouldn't Die.

Walter Climber, of the Fly's Store
neighborhood, fell between freight
cars in the South Columbia yards Fri
day evening about $50 O'Clock, sus-
tanning severe injuries from which ne
died Saturday morning at 4 O'clock
Mr.. Clember's left arm was severed
from his body near the shoulder and
his left leg was cut of near the BODY
with the exception of few slender
threads of flesh by which it hung.
The accident was one Of those that
occasionally befall the hardy men who
operate the countless freight trains
of the country. Out on his first run
on the Nashville & Decatur division OF
the Louisville & Nashville railroad,
Mr.. Climber attempted to step from
one car to another while his train was
passing through the South yards. His
foot slipped and he fell between the
cars and was run over and horribly
mangled. He was picked UP and car
ried to the Union depot, where he re-
NAMED all night, dying before the
dawn of day. DIR. Pillow attended the
| injured man, who was so badly
manned that it was impossible TO re-
| move him from the waiting room.
/ Mr.. Climber came to Columbia some
time ago and had room at the hotel
operated by ]. P. Hood. He had done
considerable clubbing as brakeman,
and had made a number of runs
through to Sheffield. Recently the
local agent was called on to supply
| four men for Nashville, and Climber
| was one of those who went. He left
here Wednesday afternoon on the $40
train. and went directly to Nashville,
where he reported for duty. He was
assigned a regular run on the Deca-
tur division, and died while making
his first trip.
81 don't know why, unless it was
because | liked him very much, but
tried to keep him from going to Nash
Vile" said ]. P Hood when discuss
ing Climbers death this morning. He
was a fine fellow, full of fun and liked
by every body. He came in one day
last week in a very buoyant frame of
mind and exclaimed / am going on
the N. & D.. / demonstrated with him,
told him that he had good job here
and that he ought to stay. Mr.. Brant,
the local superintendent, was present
at the time, and he also told him that
he had better not go. Finally Mr..
Brant left and Climber followed him
out of the house. When he came back
he told me that he was going. Walk
ing up to him, l placed my hand on
his shoulder and said: Walter, you
won't regret this but once, and that
will be always" | didn't have any
presentiment that harm would befall
him. Just liked him and didn't want
him to go
Mr.. Climber is said to be only nine
teen years of age. He is six feet and
one inch in heighth, weighs nearly
two hundred pounds, and is remark
ably handsome The remains were
removed to the parlors of Cakes &
Nichols to be prepared for burial, and
were viewed this morning by hun
dreds, all of whom commented on his
fine physique and handsome face.
Lying mortally wounded at the I'm
ion depot last night the unfortunate
young man displayed a remarkable
nerve, and never once ceased to laugh
and Joke He contended until the last
that he would not die, and brushed the
thought aside by saying this isn't
enough to kill man"
Knowing that Mr.. Climber did not
realize his condition, ]. p Hood was
asked to inform him that he could not
recover. At about midnight Mr.. Hood
undertook the task. Climber talked
of his approaching death in matter
of-fact way, contending that he would
recover. When asked If he had any
message to leave for his mother, he
requested Mr.. Hood to tell her how he
met his death,
The remains were carried to Goshen
today for interment The deceased
was reared in the Fly's Store neigh
borhood His mother resides eight
miles from Centreville in Hickman
county, but was unable to come here.
A brother was notified and made the
funeral arrangements.