Bob Skelding

Jim and I have been folling Bob Skeldings blog, the link is on this page, lower left. It's a sad end to his journey.....


Horse-drawn Journey Comes to Tragic End South of Shuqualak by Scott Boyd MaconBeacon@aol.com
The scene from Tuesday's wreck shows what's left of Skelding's rolling home and the 18-wheeler in the background (Beacon photo).
A note to our readers: Even though we live in a somewhat isolated area, we’re blessed with many fascinating people to report on each week - and others who pass through. In recent years we’ve covered a Washington man who was running across the country, pushing a three-wheeled baby stroller loaded with his possessions. A few years later his parents came through following his path on an adventure of their own. And, there were the two brothers from Wisconsin traveling through on their antique riding lawnmowers, camping and visiting along the way. So, we weren’t surprised, but fascinated, when we met Bob Skelding and his team of draft horses Monday morning as they prepared to continue their journey south. We had a great visit with him at his campsite at Macon Stockyard and prepared the story and photos at left for this week’s paper. He had attracted a lot of attention and we figured his story was worth telling.Now, we’re heartbroken following Tuesday morning’s tragic accident on Hwy. 45 just south of Shuqualak. After much thought we made the decision to continue with our original plans to publish the story of his travels. What follows below is what we’ve been able to find out about the accident.




Wagon master Bob Skelding and his four draft horses, just shortly after leaving Noxubee County Tuesday morning, were involved in a horrif ic accident with an 18-wheeler just south of the county line.According to an eyewitness, Skelding’s rig was rear-ended by a tractor-tanker-trailer rig on Hwy. 45 about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The crash immediately killed two of Skelding’s prized Percheron draft horses. The other two miraculously survived and were treated at the scene and retrieved by DeKalb veterinarian Billy Calvert.
Skelding and his team travel south through Noxubee County before the accident (Beacon photo).
Skelding’s homemade wagon/camper disintegrated upon impact with the truck, scattering debris and all his personal belongings over a 200-yard area along the southbound lanes of the highway. That stretch of the highway is flat, with no hills.The 18-wheeler driver was uninjured after his rig jacknifed and landed in the ditch on the west side of the highway. He was visibly shaken as State Troopers questioned him about the accident. His tanker was reportedly empty at the time. Another driver with the same trucking company who was just ahead and saw the accident in his rear view mirror, said they use the rigs to transport “drilling mud.”Skelding was conscious and talking to paramedics from Transcare Ambulance Service as he was loaded for transportion to Rush Hospital in Meridian. He was listed in stable condition at presstime Tuesday after undergoing surgery for broken bones. Skelding, 49, left his home in New Hampshire last August on his “dream trip” to travel around the country, with his horses leading the way. Also along for the ride was Clementine, his 18-year-old poodle. Clementine was uninjured. They had logged nearly 1,800 accident-free miles before Tuesday’s crash.The skies were overcast at the time of the accident and a light rain had just started in the area.Skelding had camped near Shuqualak Monday night and was making his way toward Meridian. His wagon rig had flashing lights on the rear and a reflective triangle to warn approaching traffic.In an interview Monday, Skelding told The Beacon he favors traveling two-lane roads, but occasionally finds it necessary to travel four-lane freeways. He said he feared 18-wheelers.Investigators from the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol were on the scene for several hours Tuesday piecing together details of the accident. The two horses that died were reportedly buried nearby by a crew from the Mississippi Department of Transportation.Several of Skelding’s family members were enroute to Meridian late Tuesday from the Northeast.
Doc, here smiling for the Beacon, survivedthe accident. (Beacon photo).
A local benefit fund has been established to help Bob Skelding pay for his medical expenses and the care and recovery of his surviving horses. You can contribute at any Citizens National Bank in Mississippi or mail to Citizens National Bank, "Bob Skelding/Wagon Teamster Benefit Fund", P.O. Box 426, Macon, MS 39341, 662-726-5861. For branch info go to www.yourcnb.com.


The Commercial Dispatch, in an article about the accident, quoted a Highway Patrol reconstructionist as saying that the accident occurred over the crest of a hill and that two big rigs were traveling “side-by-side.” Scott Boyd reports that the road was flat. Another Highway Patrolman was quoted in a website article as saying that a distant hill had nothing to do with the accident. Here is a letter sent to the Beacon from a truck driver who witnessed the accident:
Despite protests to the contrary from those who read articles in distant newspapers about the accident, and wish to argue facts of which they do not have personal knowledge, I must say that you can't believe everything that you read in the papers. Let me set Katie and anyone else straight and state for the record. The Macon Beacon reporter is correct as to his description of the locale. There was no hillcrest to limit visibility. There were no 'two trucks running side by side'.I saw the accident occur. I drive a gasoline tanker for a company based in Columbus, MS. At approximately 11:30 cst this morning, I was southbound on US 45, 6.7 miles N. of Scooba, MS, when I came upon Bob. I recognized his rig immediately as I'd seen it this past weekend North of Columbus. I changed lanes left to pass the vehicle. As I checked the right mirror, I observed a T.K. Stanley vehicle changing lanes left to pass Bob also. There was a second T.K. Stanley vehicle following close behind the first. This second vehicle did not change lanes. There occured the impact which blocked the highway for approximately an hour and a half. Two of the beautiful horses were dead at the scene. I cared for=2 0Bob until the arrival of emergency medical services. Bob asked about the condition of his horses and of Clementine. I found Clementine and brought her to him until he was being prepared for transport from the scene to Meridian.There was no one at the scene who appeared to be willing to take custody of Clementine. So, I sent my information with Bob to tell him when he recovers where Clementine is. I transported Clementine to Columbus and gave her to my wife who promptly took her to the vet. As of this writing, Clementine is staying at the vet's overnight for observation. The vet did say that for a dog of her advanced years (a woman never discusses her age) she is doing remarkably well given what she's just been through. She was ambulatory and her kidney/bladder funtions appear normal. If things progress as well in the morning, she'll get a bath and much T.L.C. until she can be reunited with Bob.My thoughts and prayers are with Bob and for his speedy recovery.