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11 August 2012

Who is Clarence N. Armstrong killed in train wreck?


The only information on Clarence Armstrong (1872-1904) is his obituary, grave stone and a photograph. 


Palestine Daily Herald (Palestine, Tex), Vol. 2, No. 261, Ed. 1, Thursday, May 5, 1904
Hamilton, W. M. and H. V. Hamilton, editors. Palestine Daily Herald (Palestine, Tex), Vol. 2, No. 261, Ed. 1, Thursday, May 5, 1904, Newspaper, May 5, 1904; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth67566/ : accessed August 01, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.

Page 1

Fatal collision On South End

Conductor Frank Austin and Fireman Armstrong Killed---Others Injured.

Killed:

CONDUCTOR FRANK AUSTIN.

FIREMAN ARMSTRONG.

Injured:

CONDUCTOR JOE WOLFE.

ENGINEER WILL MYERS.

BRAKEMAN JNO. BRYANT.

This morning at 11:20 a fatal head-on collision occurred between Phelps and Dodge, on the south end, resulting in the death of Conductor Frank Austin and Fireman Armstrong, and the serious injury of Engineer Will Myers, Brakeman John Bryant and Conductor Joe Wolfe.

  But meager details could be had, as the Western Union wires were down, but it is learned the collision was between freight No. 51, south bound, and a light engine going north. It is also reported the freight had orders to meet this engine at Dodge, but from some cause failed to obey orders.

 Conductor Vinyard, on the north-bound World’s Fair Flyer, telegraphed to local conductors to arrange to meet the body of Conductor Austin, which will be brought in on that train.

 Conductor Austin lived on Lacy street, and leaves a wife and one child.

 Fireman Armstrong was a single man, and boarded at the Galveston House.

 It was impossible up to press hour to get further particulars of the injured.

 The wreck is reported a very serious one.

The Portal to Texas History has several follow-up articles.

The following is from the Seneca, Illinois newspaper.
The Marseilles Plaindealer, Marseilles, Friday, May 13, 1904 Vol XXVIII, No. 20 transcribed 23 Dec 2000 microfilm Barb Hanson
Engineer Armstrong Killed
  The remains of Clarence N. Armstrong were brought here Monday from Palestine, Texas, for burial. He was killed in a railroad wreck at that place May 5th. It was a head end collision. Mr. Armstrong was engineer on one of the trains and he and another man was killed as of results of the accident.
 He is the brother of Mrs. Eugene Couch and Mrs. Roy Kilmer of this place. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and tof the Fireman also. They meet a representative, Mr. Briggs, with the remains. Service were held at the M.E. church, Monday at 2p.m. The remains were buried at Mount Hope Cemetery – Seneca – Record News.

Clarence is the uncle to my maternal grandmother.
I found this great website while researching for the newspapers regarding the train wreck. See the article on Examiner.com 'Genealogy resource: The Portal to Texas History website' for more information.