Reidsville, N.C., March 17—A 91-year-old railroad watchman, David Crockett Jones, died tonight from injuries received Saturday night at his post of duty at Wray’s mill crossing in Reidsville, and Wallace Clark, a young man of 17 or 18 years, escaped death or serious injury by jumping from his car, choked on the crossing in the path of Southern train No. 46.
So badly injured was the veteran watchman that he was never able to give any clear statement after the accident, though he tried to mumble a few words to a physician.
Beside his side where he was picked up lay his lantern. It was smashed and broken, but the light was still burning.
Jones was not hit by the train but the automobile, which was hurled at him after it had been struck by the train. The story told by Clark is that he stalled on the tracks. Seeing the train approaching, Clark jumped and escaped injury. Where Jones was standing at that moment is not definitely known. Clark says he did not see the watchman. But the train crashed into the car, picking it up and tossed it to one side. Jones, standing near, was smashed by the car, and fell with serious head injuries.
That was at 7 o’clock Saturday night. The old man lay near death’s door all night and day and last night at 9 o’clock he died.
Jones was well known in Reidsville. For all his 91 years he was active and vigorous. He had fought all through the civil war without receiving injury and had served a long term with the Southern railway. He was a member of the Baraca class of the Baptist church and a regular attendant at its meetings.
From the front page of the Tri-City Daily Gazette, Leaksville, N.C., Monday, March 17, 1924
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