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.
