Riley, Otmer A.

Passed: 1906-02-16

Age: 29

Source:

Death Notice: 1906-02-16

Obituary Date:

Information: SAD DROWNING OF OTMER RILEY/SUFFERING FROM TEMPORARY DEMENTIA/HE JUMPS FROM A MOVING TRAIN TO ESCAPE AN IMAGINARY DEADLY FOE/FLEES, HE KNOWS NOT WHITHER, RUSHING UPON THE ICE TO INSTANT DEATH - Death has again invaded the family and saddened the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Riley, this time claiming the oldest child, Otmer A. Riley, a bright young man of genial nature and noble impluse, who came to his end by falling through the ice in Mill creek, near Millwood, between 1 and 2 o'clock last Friday afternoon.  At Christmas time, Mr. Riley came home from West Union in shattered health and impaired mind, remaining at home under the care of a fond, intelligent mother, receiving medical treatment and enjoying a long-needed rest.  He was at times delirious and thought an attempt was being made upon his life.  In his rational moments he understood his condition thoroughly and told his family that on several occasions he had been on the point of jumping from railway trains to escape an imagined attack.  Monday of last week, he went to Parkersburg, entered a hospital and Thursday night wrote to his mother a letter full of cheer.  Friday morning he accompanied the hospital physician, Dr. Davidson, on a drive, which he seemed to enjoy much.  He was later seen to leave the hospital with his overcoat.  He arrived at the railroad station in time to buy a ticket and catch No. 9, the noon, south-bound express.  As the train neared Millwood, had reached the switch and was slackening its speed, doubtless attacked by a delirium in which he thought flight necessary to escape a deadly foe--he sprang to the ground and started back up the track, throwing his overcoat as he ran.  He had gone 150 yards when, seeing two pedestrians coming down the track and evidently thinking he was being headed off, he wheeled to the left, leaving the railroad, springing over the fence into the field, here discarding his undercoat and as quickly as possible disappeared over the creek bank.  When the train arrived at the depot, the conductor mentioned that a passenger had jumped from a coach, the two pedestrians said he had gone over the creek bank, and they joined a searching party.  The party found Mr. Riley with head and feet in the water, his body held up by ice.  He had heedlessly rushed on the ice, bent only on escape from the imaginary enemy, had proceeded fifteen or twenty feet when he slipped and fell, his face and feet breaking through.  He was out of breath and life was probably extinct as soon as his face went into the water.  Prompt efforts at resuscitation were futile. ""The silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl was broken"".  Undertaker J. R. Vail and other friends of the deceased brought the remains home on the evening train and interment was made in the Pine Hill Cemetery Sunday afternoon, after largely attended funeral services in the M. E. Church, South, conducted by Presiding Elder Peck, assisted by Pastor Winn and Rev. John Martin, the last named of whom paid a most beautiful tribute to the personality of the deceased, whom he had known for twenty years.  The floral tributes were grand.  Otmer had been regarded as promising from early childhood, was of an acute and vigorous mentality and a genial personality.  His untimely taking off cast a deep gloom upon the community and bereaved family has universal sympathy.  His brother, W. W. Riley, Jr. was telegraphed of his brother's drowning and arrived from Pt. Pleasant in time to accompany the remains from Millwood; his father, Col. W. W. Riley arrived Saturday afternoon; Hon. Jno. H. Riley, an uncle, of Marietta; Harry F. Armstrong, a cousin of Bridgeport, J. R. McMahan of St. Marys, Guy Graham and Gene Crow of Parkersburg, and two members of the Elks from Grafton came in on the late train Saturday.