Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

Walker Combs

January 9, 1928 Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio

FALL IN TANK PROVES FATAL TO WORKMAN

WALKER COMBS Killed In Unusual Accident At Mill — Death Almost Instantaneous
Fellow Workmen Unable To Explain How Tragedy Happened

Walker Combs, age 39, 1918 Woodlawn Avenue, was fatally injured at the East works of the American Rolling Mill company at 3 o'clock Sunday morning. Mr. Combs came to Middletown from Booneville, Ky. Previous to his employment as a general labor at the East works last September, he worked as a carpenter in Middletown. Surviving him are his widow, five children, his mother, two brothers and a sister.  Mr. Combs along with other men was engaged in pickling sheets to cleanse them. The sheets are first immersed in acid water and then rinsed in hot water. Suddenly Combs' companions heard him scream from the hot water tank and rushed to his rescue, but death was almost instantaneous. His fellow workmen were at an utter loss to explain how the accident happened.

Official investigation to determine the cause of the accident has not disclosed a reason for Mr. Combs' being in any position that the accident could occur. The edge of the tank is waist high, affording protection to
the workmen engaged in the pickling process. The body was taken today from the funeral home of Undertaker J. D. Riggs to the residence. Tomorrow morning, it will be sent to Arglyer, Ky., where burial will be made Thursday.

Vivian Combs Moon 2002