Gastonia, Aug.1—Five girls were killed and one seriously injured at Gambrill’s grade crossing between Gastonia and Bessemer City this afternoon shortly before 6 o’clock when a Ford truck in which they were riding was struck and completely demolished by Southern passenger train No. 45, pulled by one of the new Crescent Limited green locomotives.
Witnesses stated death was instantaneous for four of the young women and that they passed away before a scream was uttered. The dead are:
Bertha Wright
Laura Wright
Inez Jenkins
Williard Jenkins
Annie Gertrude Cloninger
Miss Ida Bess Cloninger, sister of one of the dead girls, is in a local hospital with both legs broken and with other injuries.
The Misses Wright were sisters as were the Misses Jenkins. Their ages ranged from 16 to 20 years.
Miss Annie Gertrude Cloninger was driving the truck which was a vehicle used in the delivery of groceries from her father’s grocery store.
Approaching the railroad crossing, Miss Cloninger was said to have driven around another automobile which was stopped beside the track to await the passing of the train. The truck was described as crossing the northbound and on to the southbound track, to be dashed to pieces by the onrushing southbound train.
Witnesses to the wreck describe the scene as one of horribly mangled bodies and much blood. The motor car, reduced to splinters, was scattered along the railway right of way and the torn and bleeding bodies of the four girls were strewn along the track from the tremendous impact.
Persons standing near the track declared after the wreck that the girls died in silence, no screams being heard to come from the truck when the occupants realized that death was upon them.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, Aug. 2, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-08-02/ed-1/seq-1/
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