The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-08-25
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.

Two Soldiers Killed Friday Returning
from Encampment at Morehead-
Struck by an Overhead Bridge While
Riding on Top of Train-r1en Be-
Ionged to One of the Durham COM
panies.
A horrible accident occurred Fri
day morning as the second section
of the military train bringing the
soldiers from Camp Lee, at More
head City, reached a point about
two and one-half miles below Colds
boro. Two members Of Co. D., Third
Regiment, of Durham, Bunch john
son and J. Bun Warren, while riding
on top of the coach were struck by
an overhead bridge and instantly
killed. Two others, Fletcher Gates
and Will McDade, received injuries
also but were not seriously hurt.
Gates condition was such, however,
that he had to be taken to the hos
pital in GoldsbOro for treatment.
McDade was able to continue the
trip home and marched with the
soldiers to their armOry upon reach
ing Durham. 1t was terrible affair
and cast gloom over the officers
and men of the two regiments-a sad
ending of what had otherwise been
one OF the most pleasant and success
full encampments in the history OF
the State Guard.
From the Durham Herald of Satur-
dap we take the following account of
the deplorable occurrence:
The accident occurred at Darkside
bridge. about two and One-half miles
from GOldsbOrO. The four men were
sitting on top of the car, having left the
car at LaGrange. and they were struck
by the overhead bridge allowed named.
at GOldsborO when the discovery was
made that blood was dripping from
the top of the car. This caused an in
vestigation and it was soon ascertain
ed that two men had their life knocked
out and that two others were hurt.
At that time-when the officers on
board the military train discovered
what had Occurred-bOth Warren and
| Johnson were dead. Gates came down
| from the car unassisted but soon show
| ed that he was in a delirious state. Nc
| Dade was the least hurt OF the crowd.
| He had painful scalp wound but was
| all right and assisted in taking the
| bodies of his dead comrades from the
| train.
| Both Gates and McDade insisted that
| they were not hurt but Gates showed
| that he was suffering from something
like conclusion and he was sent to the
hospital. McDade was brought on to
| Durham and last evening marched with
| the company from the train to the under
| taking establishment and then to the
armOry.
A FEARFUL SIGHT.
Last night McDade was seen by the
reporter and asked to tell what occurred
and what he saw He says that five men
left the train at LaGrange and instead
OF going back in the car they went on
top of the car. He said that they had
been ordered to remain inside but that
some one suggested to go on top and
all five crawled up there Four of these
men were Will McDade, Bunch Johnson
| Fletcher Gates and Bun Warren The
other one McDade did not remember but
it was learned by the reporter that the
fifth man was Sam Roberts. Soon after
the train was under way Roberts went
down and went into the car
McDade said that they were sitting on
the raised portion of the car-just over
the vintilation windows-and that they
were all talking, sitting with their backs
to the front, or partially so. He was
next to Warren. He does not remember
seeing any bridge and remembers moth.
ing about receiving the blow on the
head.
When | came to myself, he said last
night, Il saw Gates standing in the cen.
ter of the car. | sawthe body Of War
rem laying On the car and then noticed
that the body of Johnson was about to
slip off. | grabbed one of Johnson s
arms and called to Gates to get the other
He did so and we dragged him back into
the center of the car. He was gasping
for breath and | saw that his head was
mashed. At that time Warren was
laying on the car and was not dead. He
was breathing hard and blood was run
ming from his head and also from the
head of Johnson. did not know what
to do. The train began to slack speed
and | arose and started to go to the
rear. Just then some of the officers
came on top and | stopped. The train
then slowed down and we were at Colds
boro.'
When questioned further McDade said
that they went on top Of the car in d
rect violation of orders and did it in q
spirit of fun.