West Virginia, Seneca Rocks. On 14 November George Frederick “Fred” Schladen (30) fell to his death at about 1015 while climbing unroped below the Broadway Ledge below South Peak on Seneca Rocks. This area is considered a “scramble” and is normally climbed unroped by experienced parties. Ford Swetnam and Joan Webber were in the party some distance below and out of sight. Fred yelled or screamed. They heard Fred hit an intermediate ledge. In about five minutes they got to the three-foot ledge where Fred lay on his back with two large rocks (about 18 inches and 24 inches long) on his legs. The ledge was about 75 feet above the talus slope. Apparently he pulled loose the rocks and fell backwards with them. Distance fallen is unknown, probably less than 50 feet. The doctor said death apparently occurred from a hard blow on the chest which punctured one lung and possibly the heart. There were multiple fractures. Ford checked for head injuries. None was visible and no bleeding. Mouth-to-mouth artificial resuscitation was begun and was continued for about 30 minutes, with John Markwell alternating (he and John Christian arrived 20 minutes after the accident). There was some blood in lungs (gurgling heard) but none came out. Pupils seemed to be same size, eyes were open during first few minutes. Eyes swelled shut in about 10-15 minutes. Lips were blue at 20 minutes. Body bloated, chest and stomach were hard. Hands were yellow and no pulse visible at 20 minutes. Ford couldn’t feel any pulse earlier.

Rescue off rock began at about 1100 with one rope lowering Stokes stretcher with second rope as backup and another rope lowering John Christian who guided stretcher. At talus slopes strecther half carried with rope belay down to Roy Gap Road at 1205 where Arnold’s Ambulance Service from Petersburg took over.

Source: John Christian and John H. Markwell.