N&W in 1903 -- Disrespect for the Dead

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Note that there are three articles below.

GRUESOME SIGHT AT BLUESTONE JUNCTION
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    A gruesome sight was witnessed at Bluestone Junction yesterday.  Lying on the extension of the depot platform exposed to the boiling rays of the sun, and only protected from the public gaze by a sheet of wrapping paper weighted down at either end with brick, was all that was mortal of what had been a human being.  The body was badly mangled and no one was able to identify the poor fellow.  It is thought, however, that he was an Italian and probably a miner.
    It seems that he was run over and killed by an engine some time during Tuesday night and as late as 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon no disposition had been made of the remains.  That the body was not taken in charge early yesterday morning and arrangements made for the decent interment, is a sad commentary on the civilization of the section.
    The matter was not reported to either of the coroners there.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
July 30, 1903

MANGLED REMAINS CARED FOR BY CHARITABLE TOWN
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    The man who was killed at Bluestone Junction, and whose mangled body lay exposed all day without being claimed, as noted in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, was found to be Steve Shervis, a Hungarian miner, from Simmons Creek.  He had been to Pocahontas and had visited the saloons frequently during the day.  When he got to Bluestone Junction he was pretty drunk, and staggered about on the tracks and was taken out of the way of passing trains three times before the accident occurred.  Finally when no one was near he attempted to board a freight train and fell under the wheels.  His remains were taken charge of by the Bramwell authorities, although the accident did not occur within the jurisdiction of that town.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
July 31, 1903

DEAD BODY LAY IN DEPOT 24 HOURS
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Virginia Authorities Refused to Bury Man Who Died of Injuries Received in West Virginia
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    It has been learned that the colored man who died at Lurich Friday night, as a result of being crushed between the bumpers of two freight cars, was Rube Jennings, of Raleigh, N. C.  The poor fellow's death occurred in Virginia, and as the accident happened in West Virginia, the Virginia authorities refused to bury the body, which lay in the depot at Lurich for more than 24 hours before a section foreman came along and interred the body.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
August 2, 1903

Gordon Hamilton

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