OBIT: George COLYER, 1890, Logan Township, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jennifer Sigmon December 7, 2007, 10:43 am Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ FOUND AT LAST. THE BODY OF GEORGE COLYER DISCOVERED. Early in December Last He Disappeared and Despite Diligent Search Could Not be Found Until Yesterday When His Mutilated Remains Were Found on Brush Mountain. THEY HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY FOXES And from the Face All Flesh Had Been Eaten Away - Result of the Coroner's Inquest. On the 12th day of June, 1890, George Colyer, aged about 50 years, who was employed by Asbury Mountain at cutting ties for the Sixth avenue extension of the City Passenger railway, met with a serious accident. He had felled a tree and left his double-bitted ax stick in the stump. In some manner Mr. Colyer slipped, falling on the stump, the sharp ax almost cutting his right forearm off. All the tendons were severed. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment and remained in the institution until the first day of August when he was discharged as cured. Between the time of his admission and discharge he was attacked by blood poisoning, but the skillful medical treatment and nursing brought him through the attack sound physically, but with his mental faculties greatly impaired. He continued to be treated as an out patient until December 2, when the injury to his arm, which had been considered cured, commenced to give him trouble, and on that date he was readmitted. While the attendants were preparing his bath he disappeared. At this time he was demented and was not responsible for his actions. The hospital authorities made diligent attempts to find him, but all their efforts proved unavailing and not a trace of his whereabouts was found. Several days after his disappearance from the hospital his friends became alarmed and instituted a search for him. Notices were published asking for information, but not the least information that would discover his whereabouts was received. Search was made all through the country by friends of the missing man, but no clue was found that would lead to his relatives finding him. The general public became interested in the case but after the search for him had resulted in absolute failure, and weeks had elapsed the missing man was forgotten by nearly every one who was at first interested. The relatives and near friends feared that he had wandered into some secluded spot on the mountain and been overcome by exhaustion caused by his enfeebled condition, and died or been frozen to death before his condition was discovered. Their worst fears have been more than realized and the ghastly discovery of his frozen and mutilated body yesterday morning on the mountain side along the Kettle road caused considerable excitement. The first news of the discovery was brought to the city by one of the employes of one the logging camps along the Kettle road who notified Coroner Poet of the finding of the body. That official and Undertaker Arthur, guided by the man who brought the information drove to the scene. On arriving at their destination they were informed that they body was almost at the top of the mountain, which at this point is exceedingly steep. Much difficulty was experienced in reaching the spot, and much more in getting the body to the level ground. The difficulty of reaching the spot makes it one of the most unfrequented places on the mountain and the body was accidentally found by a man named Thomas Styles who was cutting wood in the vicinity. The coroner impannelled a jury of inquest, which identified the remains as those of George Colyer by papers found in the pockets of his clothing and returned a verdict that death was caused by freezing. After the inquest the remains were given in charge of Undertaker Arthur and conveyed to his establishment, where they were prepared for burial. One cannot imagine a more horrible sight than the one the body presented, and those who were unfortunate enough to have had the curiosity to look at the features, were so impressed that they will not soon forget the appearance of the exposed portions. The flesh had been eaten from the face and neck by crows or foxes and presented the appearance of a skeleton. The hands suffered a like mutilation. The remainder of the body covered by clothing was frozen when found and it appeared to be in a fair state of preservation. The deceased is survived by two sons and one daughter - one son, Samuel Colyer, living at Juniata. The remains will be taken to his old home in Logan township this morning, where the body will be kept until Friday when the interment will be made in Antis burying ground. Mr. Colyer was a quiet, unassuming man, and for many years had been a farmer in the township, where he had many friends who express sorrow at the tragic death. Until the unfortunate accident befell him which incapacitated him from work he had been industrious. He fretted over the accident which compelled him to idleness, and it is thought this unbalanced his mind and ultimately led to his death. Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., February 19, 1891 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/