The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-12-10
SOLDIER PLUNCES
TO DEATH FROM
B. AND 0. TRAIN
Railroad and County Officials In
vestigating Particulars About
Mishap Tuesday Night

Railroad and Garrett county
officials are still investigating
the matter surrounding the
death of a West Virginia soldier
who plunged to sudden death
from Baltimore and Ohio Ma
tiOnal Limited passenger train
on Tuesday night, and whose
body was recovered yesterday
afternoon from Crab Tree Creek
approximately three hundred
feet straight down the mountain
side below the railway tracks.
States Attorney Neil C. Fraley
said the body had been identified as
that of Private Basil Shuttleworth,
Jr., 21, of Worthington, West Va,
from papers found on the clothing of
the man. Worthngton is near Fair
mont. The leave of absence was for
period of ten days dating from De-
cember 8, and indicated that he was
attached to an anti-aircraft battery
at Fort Fisher, N. c. 1t is surmiscd
that he was enroute home when he
met with his tragic death.
E. r. Shrout, Baltimore and Ohio
Railway detective, who was notified
Of the affair by train officials, told the
States Attorney that porter on the
National Limited related that sol
der had jumped from the train while
travelling west on the 17-milc grade.
1t was at first reported that perhaps
two men had jumped from the train,
but check-up at Grafton disclosed
that but one passenger was missing.
The soldiers body was found early
yesterday morning by Raymond burst
of near Swanton, who was directed to
search for body by the railway Of
fetal after he had been told of the
occurrence.
After the body was located county
officials were notified and they recov-
cred the body yesterday afternoon in
approximately three feet of waite" =
Crab Tree Creek, about four miles
east of Swanton and about twenty
miles from Oakland.
The man had plunged down a sheer
3O0foot mountain side into the water
the last fifty feet of the fall being al
most perpendicular. Baltimore and
Ohio officials declared that it was the
only spot along the grade where such
an accident Gf it was an accident)
could have taken place, as at this
point the west-bound tracks are very
near the edge of the precipitous
mountain side
After the body had been brought
to Oakland, it was examined by DR.. r.
R. Williams, deputy county medical ex-
aminer. There was a deep head wound
but no skull fracture and DR.. Will
liams declared he believed the man
suffered a concussion when he fell
and that while still unconscious in the
stream sutfocated and was drowned.
An examination showed a quantity of
water in his lungs.
Mr.. Shrout left Oakland last night
for keyscr where he said he would
contact the train porter for further
information in an attempt to learn
whether the man had fallen or had
jumped from the train and whether
or not any other person was involved.
Tracks in the snow indicated that the
soldier had landed on his feet after
leaving the train.
Mr.. Fralcy said he had notified the
young mans parents and army officers
and that the body would remain at
the Boldcn Undertaking establishment
in Oakland pending orders from the
United States Army authorities as to
its disposition.
Several weeks ago a soldier in Gus
tody of military police, jumped from
the National Limited on the grade,
but landed on a cindor pile and es-
capped injury temporarily, only to be
picked up the next day by Corporal
Thomas Curric of the State police
-V-