J.W.C. Blue Dies of Broken Neck in Fall from Wagon, April 8, 1926

Mr. Blue’s Neck Broken in Fall. . . Well Known Eureka Man Is the Victim of a Distressing Accident

Dashed to the ground when the body of his wagon, on which he was riding, caught on a tree as it was rounding a curve in the road, J.W.C. Blue, one of the leading citizens of the Eureka community, sustained a broken neck and jaw-bone which resulted in almost instantaneous death. A colored man, who was on the wagon with him, escaped with minor injuries.

The accident occurred in the Eureka community, almost in sight of the Farm Life School. At the time, Mr. Blue was en route to the railroad to secure a load of fertilizer, and his team was sauntering carelessly down the road, the driver never realizing the imminence of danger, when one of the ends of the flat, protruding body caught against a tree. That threw the other end against the legs of the mule on the opposite side, causing it to make a sudden lunge into the air. The inevitable happened. Pressure on both sides of the body caused it to topple over, precipitating both Mr. Blue and his colored helper to the ground.

Falls Head Foremost

Mr. Blue fell head-foremost, and it is believed that he either struck a tree or fell under the wagon wheels. The colored man was tossed clear of the wagon, but an edge of the body fell upon him, inflicting minor injuries. The mules started running away, but had gone not more than a hundred yards before they became tangled up in some brush and small trees.

Regaining his feet, the colored man ran after the team, and when he had it in charge, he looked for Mr. Blue, only to find him lifeless near the scene of the wreck. Aid was quickly summoned, but the victim as beyond treatment.

Funeral services were conducted from the Eureka Presbyterian church Saturday by Rev. C.E. Clarke, and interment was in the cemetery there. The Eureka cemetery was just recently laid off and Mr. Blue was the first person to be interred in the new burying ground.

The deceased was a son of the late Peter Blue, and is survived by his wife, three children, three sisters, and one brother. He was a very substantial citizen and was recognized as one of the best farmers in the county. He was about 45 years of age.

From the front page of The Moore County News, Carthage, N.C., Thursday, April 8, 1926

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