Notes for: Worthy James Bland
News item, "The Clarksburg Telegram," Friday, 15 May 1903, in its entirety:
"ALL OFF FOR O’NEIL" - YOUNG BLAND JUMPS
The first ride Worthy Bland, of Avon, Doddridge County, ever took on a railroad train proved quite disastrous to him and almost fatal. He was coming from his home Monday morning to the O'Neal coal mine, one mile west of Wilsonburg, to accept a position there. The ride was an experience to him and he was considerably interested in the running of the train. But be failed for some reason to notice that the train stopped at the way stations before the passengers alighted, and, when the train approached O'Neil, the brakeman, as is the custom, called out the name of the station. The brakeman had no sooner said "O’Neil" than young Bland rushed out of the rear to the platform between two coaches and jumped off a point about 300 yards west of the station. The train was running at the rate of fifteen miles an hour at least. He fell to the ground within five feet of the track. Passengers saw him jump and they notified the brakeman. The train came to a hurried stop and the trainmen and several passengers ran back to him to find him unconscious. He was picked up, carried to the baggage car and brought to tho Harrison county hospital here on the same train, the morning accommodation east, from which he jumped. Soon after he was picked up he was restored to consciousness, and talked freely about the incident, relating in full his intentions in jumping. He appeared to think that that was the way all people got off trains. An examination showed that his left leg was broken just above the ankle. His face and head were also frightfully cut. He is a son of Mrs. Nancy Bland and is 16 years of age. He has an uncle residing here, James Sheets.