The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1908-10-02
KILLED
On Big Sandy Train Sun
day Evening.
John Whitaker, Of Flo, d County
Loses His Life in a Fight.

An affray. unfortunate and lament
able In every respect aud tragic in
It's ending. occurred on c. & o. pas
seneer train No. IS last sunday even
ing II was the last Of the Big sap-
dy excursions from Pikeville to Ash
land and the train OF four or five
coaches had gone down In the morn
ing crowded TO the limit A large
number OF passengers from Louisa
lad gone 10 Buchanan, attracted by
the dedication OF the new odd Eel
lows hall at that place. The train
IN charge Of Conductor Frank
Hlevins, left Ashland about six D,
m. and no disturbance occurred until
the train was not far from Zelda.
CondnclorBleyins was passing through
the coach next the baggage car when
he was accosted by a man named
John Whitaker. Whitaker, who had
evidently been drinking told Blevins
he wanted seat The conductor
poihted 10 a couple Of vacant seats
-~e BY and told the man TO take
pne "a them. Whitaker said he want
I'd another seat, and Bleyins asked
him how many seats he wanted
Whitaker said he wanted six or
feven The conductor thea told him
70 y9dt Il out and sit down and be
quiet, and passed on through the
coach. Upon entering the coach
again shortly aftervard passenger
told him that Whitaker had handf,l
Of cartridges and had been talking
IN threatening manner and that It
Mould he well 10 watch him. The
conductor also heard that he had
pistol.
Dr. Fred Marcum. Marshal OF
Louisa, was on the train, returning
20 Loulsa from Catlettsburg with
some prisoners. The conductor went
TO the Marshal and told him there
was a man on board whom he wanted
arrested and put off the train at
louisa. expressing the belief that
he had a pistol. He described the
man as wearing a white hat, etc
DR.. Marcum had occasion TO go in
10 the car where Whitaker was, and
in passing through he noticed a
man wearing a white hat and lean
ing over the back OF seat. The Inn
preston Of n revolver in a real. pock-
ct was seen by the marshal and
lie promptly arrested the man and
told him the conductor had request
cd him 10 do So The man protested
that he was not the one indicated by
tire conductor, and said he had TAX
IN the pistol away from Whitaker.
slarcum sent for the conductor and
he said the man under arrest was
not the disorderly one, and proceed
ed TO find Whitaker. He was found
IN seat with two companions. The
marshal told Whitaker to go with
him into the next car (where the
ether prisoners werel. Whit aker
refused and Marcum took hold Of
tim. Quick as a flash a terrible
blow was landed on Marcum's face,
Another man struck HIM llmass q,
the same time. Then followed I
rain OF blows TINT landed the mar
ehal against the smoking room wall
I'm the end OF the coach. The goa-
ductor went TO Marcums assis ance
and was promptly kaocksd d-wn n
the coraer, The fight ragged last
npd furious with four men lgains,
two. The conductor aad marshal
were hampered In thsir defense by be-
ing up against the end OF the car.
One witness says Marcum was ,truck
with a whisky ho.tle, as we'll IS with
fists. Another says branding
hammer inflicted the wound on his
forehead. Finally Marcum drew his
revolver and began 10 use II as a
club, but. after striking two blows
one Of his assailants got hold Of inc
pistol and almost succeeded in wrench
ing 1t from him. tearing the ilesi
from Marcum's finger. BY an extra ef
fort he recovered the pistol, aad
fired one shot as the blows contia-
ned to fall upon him. Blevins was
Just crawling up from the floor wher
the shot was fired. The fight ceas-
ed and Whitaker began to pray
He gave Blevins his hand and said
4 want You to forgive me for wha
have done, | have nothing against
Continued on page four)