On Way to Xmas Celebration, Smith Family's 2- and 4-Year-Olds Killed When Train Strikes Their Car, Dec. 19, 1919

From the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Thursday afternoon, January 1, 1920

Fatal Auto Wreck

Wadesboro, Dec. 19—Facts in regard to the automobile accident in Polkton last Thursday in which two children of A. Cleveland Smith of Wadesboro lost their lives and three others, including Mr. Smith, were painfully injured, are just coming to light.

It appears that while the party was on its way to Polkton from Wadesboro to spend Christmas with Mr. Smith’s brother-in-law, the curtains of the car were drawn and none of the party noted train number 19 going towards Charlotte as they started across the Polkton crossing. The train struck the car, demolishing it and throwing all the occupants to the ground.

One of the Smith children, aged 2 years, was killed instantly, while another, aged 4, died as a result of injuries at the Wadesboro hospital Sunday.

It is expected that the other three occupants of the car, Mr. Smith, his wife and brother, will recover.