The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1910-05-20
The Story Of Judge Bells Death

The Story Of Judge Bells Death
The HarrOdsburg Herald prints a
letter from Ralph Goddard, a former
Harrisburg citizen, who was with
Judge Bel when the latter was killed
in the street car wreck at. Seattle.
Mr. Goddard describes the horrible
accident as follows: Our party. with
Judge and Mrs Bell. were entertained
at dinner by Judge Saulsherry, a
former Kentuckian. In true Kerr
lucky 81 irit, Judge SaulSberry arrang-
ed for US all to 90 out together in the
middle ct the afternoon, Mrs. Goddard
and l taking along, our two year-old
boy and l1-vear-Old Julia Lee Roches-
ter, whose father is also a Kentuckian
having been born and reared at Mel
rose. the Granville Cecil home near
Danvillp. The Tip out was thorough
ly enjoyed by ali. and after a most de-
lightful repast. the evening spent was
an ideal one indulging ourselves to
the fullest in Kentucky "reminiscences.
At 10 O'Clock we took the car for
home.
On account of the chill of the eve
ming and from the fact that our baby
was asleep in Mrs. Goddard's arms, we
all settled ourselves on the very fore.
most seat of the car that we might
avoid the draft which would natural
ly strike US in the middle or rear
where windows and doors were being
opened, My recollection is that we
had Travelled probably 10 or Is min
uteS and had come to a stop at Or
chard Beach, the first station beyond,
where they were unloading passen-
gers. L can just remember hearing a
noise in front that seemed to chill
the very marrow in my backbone,
and then l raised my eyes and saw
that another Car was crOwding in upon
'iS. OF course We were dazed, and if
word was said l have no recOlIeci lon
of it. Con and l were sitting with
our faces practically against the front
glass: Mrs. Goddard. the little Roches-
ter girl and our baby on the front seat
across the aisle, with Mrs. Bell i'm
medlately behind Mrs. Goddard. We
mus: have attempted to arise in our
seats when the crash came, after
which l knew nothing whatever until
we were about to be unloaded at the
Emergency Hospital in Seattle two
hours later. My first recollection of
anything pertaining to the event is
that of our precious boy hanging tn
my neck, begging and almost convul.
sive. and seeing Mrs. Goddard, Mrs
Bell and Others stretched about the
floor around me: also a quiet little
form OF a bench across the aisle,
which they told me was our little
guest Of the evening. l was dazed,
having been knocked unconscious
from the fall which l received in the
beginning. must have lapsed into
inSenSibility again and knew nothing
further until l awakened on a cot in
the hospital and had presence 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 entire builG.
ing. 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 breathed bel
last. One particularly queer feature
| am informed, is that Con had nc
mark Of mutilitiOn upon him save the
fracture at the base of the brain,
This proves to my mind that both he
and 1 must have half risen in our seats
and by force of the impact were
thrown entirely beyond reach of the
OncOming train. When 1 tell you
that the train was runaway freight
with probably several hundred tons
of coal, making speed anywhere from
80 to IS miles an hour down grade, you
can readily imagine the result to those
seated in the front end of the cal
being struck. The little Rochester
girl, seated with Mis-. Goddard, had
both legs broken and was simply a
mangled bit of human flesh and
bones.
Mrs. Bell is doing as we'll as could be
expected. She, like me. received no
broken bones. but was simply bruised
over the entire body. Our little boy
sustained only sprained ankle.