The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-03-08
KILLED BY 4. c. |. TRAIN.
PETER w. BOYKIN STRUCK BY
SPECIAL TRAIN NEAR CHAN
DLER'S SIDING.
Times During Day Previous to Ac-
cident-Inqucst Was Held Sunday
Evening, but Name Was Not Learn
ed Until Monday MOrning-Body
Taken to Maycsville.

Peter w. Boykin, a young man liv-
ing at or near Mayesville was struck
by special A. c.. l.. train Sunday af-
ternoon near Chambers Siding and
instantly killed. The young man was
sitting on the track at the time and
apparently made no attempt to get
out of the way Of the oncoming train.
a negro, Tom Holmes, was the only
eyewitness to the accident and was
the chief witness at the coroners in
quest which was held Sunday evening
about o'clock out in a swamp along
side the track, where the man was
killed.
DR.. Holman testified that.the mans
spine and skull were fractured and
the negro Holmes testified to having
seen Boykin sitting on the track. He
stated that the train blew several
times before it struck the man, but
did not stop after it had hit him. Mr.
a. l.. Hodge stated that he had seen
the man on the side Of the railroad
track some time before the train
came along and that he was appar-
emily drunk or in a stupor.
The train that killed young Boykin
was a special running from Augusta
to Washington. Il had on board sew
eral companies Of militia bound for
the inauguration at Washington. 1t
passed Sumter shortly after o'clock
and was running between the two
regular afternoon trains. Conductor
Langdon Jones and Engineer Boom.
Of Florence were in charge Of the
train. 1t is not known whether they
knew Of the fact that the train had
killed a man, as it is probable the
train would have stopped had they
been acquainted with this fact. 1t was
stated by an a. c. l.. employee OF
this city that it was probable that
the engineer was blowing for the
crossing or the siding near this place
and not blowing as a warning to Boy
kin.
At the time that Coroner Flowers
held thei inquest, there was no means
of identifying the man. The initials
"P. w. e." were found inside his coat
but none Of the persons who congre
gated at the scene knew him. The
body was brought to town Sunda,
night by Deputy Sheriff John Epper
son and taken to MT. c. II. Hurst
undertaking establishment Here i
was recognized by friends Monday
morning and the young mans father
: Mr.. Hardy BOykin, of Mayesville, wa
notified. Mr.. Boykin came over OF
the train Monday morning for tn.
body and returned with it to Mayes
: Vile in the afternoon
! 1t Is not known what was the mat
ter with the young man that he di,
not get out OF the way Of the train
: but it is supposed that he was drunl
| or "dOped." He had been seen o1
the track near the Brick yard in TIN
morning, where he was removed b.
! force. Sheriff Bradford was notlfie,
and went out to this place, but tn
man had gone on before he arrived
Later he was seen near New Surnte
lying near the track and at the tim
he was struck he was sitting on tn
| track.
Peter w. Boykin was not quite 2
years OF age. He was the son of Mr.
Hardy B0ykin of Mayesville, a farrne
| living ON Mr.. j. +. BANDS place
| He had one brother and one siste1
| living al Mayesville
The body was taken from Mr.. Geo
III. Hurst's undertaking establishment
| about o'clock and carried to Mayes
vile where it will be buried Tuesday
morning.