From The Roanoke Rapids Herald, May 2, 1919
Corbitt W. Cannon’s
Body Found in River. . . Discovered by the Small Son of Ed Brown Under the
Coast Line Bridge Over Meherrin River at Emporia. . . Disappeared Dec. 29,
1918. . .
Overcoat Was Entangled With a Mass of Brush-Inquest Held at 10:00
O’Clock Thursday
The body of Corbitt W. Cannon, who disappeared mysteriously
from Emporia, Va., on the night of December 29, 1918, was found in the Meherrin
River directly under the bridge of the Atlanta Coast Line Railroad at Emporia
early Wednesday morning by the small son of Ed Brown and a companion, who were
fishing in the river. The boys saw his shoes floating above the water in mid
stream and notified several men, who immediately secured a canoe and went to
the body untangling it from a mass of brushes and bringing it to the shore,
where the same was positively identified by a name plate on his keys, initials
on his cuff links and initials on his clothing.
The coroner was called and viewed the body, after which he
ordered it turned over to an undertaker at South Emporia, who deodorized the
body and held it in his establishment until the inquest which was held at 10
o’clock Thursday morning.
As soon as the body was identified relatives at Rosemary
were notified by telephone, who with a number of friends went to Emporia to
learn the particulars, and to get the opinion of the citizenry as to how his
death occurred.
The writer talked with several prominent Emporia men, all of
whom were of the opinion that Mr. Cannon’s death was caused by his stepping
from the train into the river 35 feet below the bridge, being instantly killed
or so badly wounded that he drowned immediately and later drifted to the raft
of bushes where his overcoat became so entangled as to prevent the body from
rising to the surface.
The particulars given the writer Wednesday afternoon were
that Mr. Cannon together with two friends boarded the Florida Special which passes
Emporia at 1:30 to buy some whiskey from a porter on one of the Pullman cars.
His two friends secured their whiskey and got off the train at the water tank
which is about 150 yards from the bridge where the body was found. These men
say the last time they saw Mr. Cannon alive he was standing on the platform of
the car with some money in one hand a bottle of whiskey in the other. It is
presumed by this that he remained on the train, which was rapidly gaining
speed, longer than he thought and hurriedly jumped from the train into the
river, unconscious of the fact that the train was crossing the river.
Practically all of his effects carried in his pockets were
found in his clothes. His watch and money, something over $7 being found in his
clothing.
The coroner’s jury Thursday rendered a verdict the deceased
met his death by falling from the train on the night of December 29, 1918.
The body was brought to Rosemary Thursday and buried in the
Roanoke Rapids Cemetery at 6 o’clock, the Woodmen of the World having charge of
the funeral.
Mr. Cannon was a native of Virginia and had worked at
Rosemary and Roanoke Rapids for several years up until the few months before
his disappearance. His work threw him in contact with many of his fellow men,
all of whom admired him for his likeable manner. He has many friends in our
community who deeply regret his mysterious death and feel the keenest sympathy
for his young wife.
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