Charles W. Huff, Train Accident

The following articles were transcribed from the Cumberland Times, August 1958.

Article 1
Locust Grove Man Victim of RR Accident

Admitted to Memorial Hospital was Charles Huff, 62 who had one leg nearly severed and the other badly mangled in the accident which occurred about 8:45 p.m. A spokesman for the railroad said the man apparently walked into the path of the slowly moving train and was dragged about 25 feet. The victim was given medical attention at the scene by Dr. D.B. Grove, local physician and surgeon. Police said the locomotive had to be backed up about a foot in order to extricate the man from beneath the train. The only witnesses to the accident, according to the railroad spokesman, were the conductor and the brakeman who were riding on front of the diesel unit which was pulling two loaded cars and a caboose. S.W. Shroyer, buffalo Mills, Pa., brakeman, said he was on the front of the locomotive with J.A. Groter of Eckhart, conductor. Mr. Shroyer said the whistle had been blown for the crossing and the crewmen thought the man would stop for the locomotive. but he walked into the path of the train. Engineer on Diesel No. 37 was C.A. O'Neal, of Mt. Savage. The crew left Ridgeley and were traveling west along the C&P branch of the line. An ambulance from the Astor Cab Company was dispatched to the scene to take the victim to the hospital. The train was moved from the crossing sometime after 10 p.m. Trooper Joseph Stakem is investigating for the State Police. Prior to the accident the train had left the B&O connection and was traveling into the Mt. Savage section. The accident victim is an employee of the Amcelle plant of Celanese Corporation.

Article 2
Charles W. Huff Dies from Injuries When Struck at Crossing

Charles Wesley Huff, 61 year old Locust Grove man who was struck by a Western Maryland Railway freight train last night, died this morning in Memorial Hospital. Huff was struck by the train on the railway's crossing in that community at about 8:45 p.m. yesterday. He reportedly walked into the path of the slowly moving engine as it was pulling two loaded cars and a caboose. Members of the train crew informed authorities that the whistle had ben blown for the Locust Grove crossing, but that Huff made no attempt to avoid the train. Huff was dragged about 25 feet before the train could be stopped, and it had to be backed off before his body could be removed from the tracks. His legs were badly mangled, with one being almost severed. Dr. D.B. Grove, local physician, treated him at the scene, after which Huff was removed to Memorial Hospital. members of the train crew were C.A. O'Neal, Mt. Savage, engineer; S.W. Shroyer, Buffalo Mills, Pa., brakeman, and J.A. Groter, Eckhart, conductor.

Born at Rawlings, Huff was a son of the late Leonard W. and Mary S. (Baker) Huff. He had been employed at the Amcelle plant of the Celanese Corporation. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Beulah I. (Price) Huff; a son, Charles W. Huff, Baltimore Pike; five daughters, Misses Shirley M. and Barbara E. Huff, Mrs. william A. Erek and Mrs. Charles Hill, all of Baltimore, and Mrs. Robert Elder, this city; a brother, Richard L. Huff, Valley Road; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Granigan, Baltimore; Mrs. Carl T. Cookerly, Baltimore Pike, and Mrs. Samuel Umstot, Short Gap, W.Wa., 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The body is at the George Funeral Home.