Howard Armstrong Dies When His Car Goes Off Road, March 21, 1919

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., March 21, 1919. To see a photo of W. Howard Armstrong, go to https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025812/1919-03-21/ed-1/seq-1/

A Ford Minus Lights and a Slippery Road. . . Such is the Probable Explanation of the Tragic End of Elizabeth City Salesman

Night had fallen, the road was wet and treacherous, the headlights on his automobile were not working, he was hurrying to reach the hotel at Mackey’s before supper was over; in the darkness his car collided with the iron railing of a concrete bridge. The car was going at a speed of 20 to 25 miles. When he struck the railing of the bridge he gave the steering wheel a quick turn to the center of the road, the car skidded, struck the railing of another bridge about 50 feet further on, broke thru the railing and plunged into a creek, pinning him underneath. Such is the probably explanation of the death of W. Howard Armstrong of this city, whose lifeless body was found in his automobile in the water by the side of a bridge, about four miles from Mackeys last Friday morning.

The body was found by Edgar R. Chesson of Mackeys about 8 o’clock Friday morning. The accident was supposed to have happened about 7 o’clock Thursday evening as Mr. Armstrong was seen at a store three miles beyond the scene of the accident a little before 7 o’clock.

Howard Armstrong was 29 years old and was employed as a traveling salesman for J.B. Flora & Co., of this city. He leaves a wife and one small child. His father is C.H. Armstrong, who lives near Columbia, Tyrrell county.

The funeral was held at the City Road M.E. Church this city Sunday afternoon and the remains interred in Hollywood Cemetery with I.O.R.M. honors.