Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1917-02-15
LONELY DEATH
OF MAIL CARRIER
Sad Fate of w. Bruce Black.
burn Who Was Frozen
While on Duty.

efW. Bruce Blackburn, the young ru-
raj carrier on Routes 3 and 4 on Cum
berland mountain, whose lifeless body
was found about four miles from Pike
Vile on last Saturday morning, is
furnished us this week
The weather Of last Friday was the
severest witnessed in this section for
some ter or twelve years, the mercury
lowering around zero nearly all day
and az night approached on the noun
tain the cold was intense. As Friday
was the usual day for the long trip Of
tbirty-six miles on Route 4, the car.
rier made the trip horseback. az was
customary during the season Of rough
weather and muddy roads. He had
made the trip around in safety and
was reported as being all right and
wrote money order for Frank Hale.
about five miles from town He was
all right tho cold, according to Mr.,
Hale. At Jake Simmons, half mile
nearer, he chstted with Mr.. Simmons
few minutes and appeared all right.
1t was tnen about sundown. Il is on
" a distance of half mile nearer
Pikeville to where his body was found
near small spring by the road side.
While it will never be known Just
how death came to him it is surmised
by those visiting the scene and exam
lining the ground that apparently he
did not realize how cold.he was, being
anxious to reach home and loved ones
he had ridden until the cold had para
lized his lower limbs by stopping the
circulation of blood. Traces on the
ground show that he had dismounted,
and his limbs failing to support him,
he had fallen, and the mail pouch had
been discarded. Other evidences tend
to show that he had crawled to a
bank by the side of the road where be
had sat down and tried to stir up the
circulation in the frozen limbs. He
had also attempted to smoke az was
indicated by tho tobacco being scatter
ed over tbs ground. In all probabili-
ty he had again dragged himself back
to the horse and attempted to mount
when the stupor or drowsiness produc-
81 bv the freezing limbs overcame
him and he lay down on his face in
the position in which he was found
next morning by Sam Simmons and
John Frady at about nine O'Clock.
When Bruce failed to appear at
home at dark on Friday evening his
wife became alarmed and notified
friends and neighbors of the fact
The Route being we'll known to
but few of the citizens messenger
was sent TO the home of Robt, Annis
to get him to go with party to
search for him. The messenger failed
to arouse Anuis who had retired for
the night and returned and reported, |
leaving the anxious ones at loss how
to proceed. Thinking that possibly
the carrier being late and the weather
so severe had decided to spend the
night with friends on the mountain,
they abandoned the search untH&Morn
ing At about ten o'clock the horse
he had ridden came homo VITA tue
reinAstll across the p0mme of tn
saddle, and another effort was made
by the frantic wife to get someone to
go and search for him. It seemed that
few realized the actual danger that
the young man was IN, and they we're
again confronted by the fact that they
did not know the road.
Saturday morning party started
out to search for him when they we're
met by those who had discovered the
lifeless body and informed of his sad
fate. The news of his death cast a
gloom over the entire town and many
were the expressions of regret that
they did not go in search of the car
rier before it was too late. Bruce bad
many intimate friends in the commun
ity, any Of whom would have been
glad to have gone to the rescue had
they realized his danger. The body =
was brought to his home in this city
afternoon, and funeral ser
vices were held at the home by Rev. J
NJ, FL Monroe on SUNDAY afternoon,
Owing to heavy snowstorm which l
was in progress burial did not take l
1lace until Monday morning. t
W. Bruce Blackburn was the son of /
Mr.. and Mrs W. G.. Blackburn, whol
ire among the towns oldest and re- t
pected citizens He was of happy ;
are free disposition, with always a e
lind smile and cheerful word for all 1
With whom he came in contact. U
These traits in his disposition made
or him q host cf friends who feel '
eenly their loss. He WAS 80 years of
ge and had been in the service of the
J. s. as rural carrier for little ovsi r
10 years. rendering eMieient and .
aithful service 20 the governsssns till j