The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-05-17
GRAPHIC STORY
OF BELLS DEATH.
Former Harrodsburg Man Writes
of the Street Car Accident
at Seattle.

The Harrodsburg Herald prints let
ter from Ralph Goddard. former Har-
rodsburg citizen, who was with Judge
Bell when the latter was killed in the
street car wreck at Seattle. Mr.. God
dard graphically describes the fearful
accident. Part of his letter says that
their party, with Judge and Mrs Bell,
were entertained at dinner by Judge
Saulsberry, a former Kentuckian. He
then says: THE judges new country
home is situated at Brynmawr. a town
founded on the beautiful shore of Lake
Washington, about II miles south of
the city. In true Kentucky spirit,
Judge Saulsberry arranged for US all to
20 out together in the middle Of the af-
ternoon, Mrs. Goddard and | taking
along our two year-old boy and 1l-year-
old Julia Lee Rochester, whose father
is also Kentuckian, having been born
and reared at Melrose. the Granville
Cecil home near Danvlle. The trip out
was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and af-
ter a most delightful repast, the eve
ming spent was an ideal one. INDUCING
ourselves to the fullest in Kentucky
"reminiscences At 10 o'clock we took
| the car for home
On account of the chill of the evening
and from the fact that our baby was
asleep in Mrs Goddard's arms. we all
settled ourselves on the verv foremost
seat of the car that we might avoid the
draft which would naturally strike US
in the middle or rear where windows
and doors were being opened. My re-
collection is that we had travelled prob
ably 10 or Is minutes and had come to
stop at Orchard Beach, the first sta
ton beyond, where they were unloading
passengers. | can just remember hear
ing noise in front that seemed to chill
the very marrow in my backbone, and
then raised my eyes and saw that an
other train was crowding in upon US. |
OF course we wete dazed, and i'll word
was said have no recollection Of it.
Con and were sitting with our faces
practically against the front glass; Mrs.
Goddard. the little Rochester girl and
our baby on the front seat across the
aisle, with Mrs. Bellimmediately behind
Mrs. Goddard. We must have attempt
ed to arise in our seats when the crash |
came, after which l knew nothing |
whatever until we were about to be
uulosded at the Emergency Hospital in
Seattle two hours later. Ny first re-
collection of anything pertaining to the
event is that of our precious boy hang |
ing to my neck. begging and almost
convulsive. and seeing Mrs. Goddard. |
Mrs. Bell and others stretched about |
the floor around me; also a quiet little
form on a bench across the aisle, which |
someone told me was our little guest Of
the evening. l was dazed. having been
knocked unconscious from the fall which
| received at the beginning. must
have lspsed into insensibiity again and
knew nothing further until | awakened
on a cot in the hospital and had pres
ence of mind sufficient to inquire for
Con. They told me that he was on the
cot beside me. and his piteous means
and walls could be heard over the en-.
tire building Just about that time the
cot was wheeled away from me and |
again lost consciousness. Upon my
next query they simply told me that
death had come on the operating table.
About an hour after this. which was
probably o'clock in the morning, the
little girl bresthed her last. One par
ticularly queer feature. am informed.
is that Con had no mark of mutilation
, upon him save the fracture at the base
of the brain. This proves to my mind
that both he and must have half ris-
en- in our seats and by force of the i'm
pact. were thrown entirely beyond reach
Of the oncoming train. When l tel
you that the train which ran US dowr
: was runaway freight with probably
several hundred tons of coal. making
speed anywhere from so to rs miles al
, hour down grade, you can readily i'm
agine the result TO those seated in thu
front end OF the car being struck. The
little Rochester girl. seated with Mrs
Goddard. had beth legs broken and wal
! simply mangled bit Of human fiesi
and bones.
Mrs. Bell is doing as well as could b
> expected. She. like me, received M
/ broken bones. but was simply bruised
! over the entire body. Our little boy
sustained only sprained ankle.