The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-11-20
Tom Johns and EgberI Horne Instantly
Killed When Train COIIides With
Automobile
SKULLS CRUSHED AND
BADLY MANGLED
Funeral Services Tomorrow al Johns
Home al l:3O and at Church
at $3.50 P. N.

An appalling tragedy which cost the
lives Of two people well known in
Chickasha resulted from a miscalcu-
lation as to the drivers ability to beaS
Rock Island train to the crossing
five miles north of Chickasha at S:45
yesterday morning, according to the
railroad mems version. Two mangled
bodies and a completely demolished
Ford automobile told the gruesome
story whose details are better left to
the Imagination.
Thomas Johns a prominent stock
raiser and member of the firm Of
Johns brothers, who for many years
has been highly respected citizen
Of this community, and Egbert Horne,
the fourteen year old son of w. W.
Horne, one of the owners of the. Eagle
Mercantile company and large
stockholder and director of the Citi-
zens National bank, are today lying in
state in the undertaking parlors of the
Claycomb and Anderson undertaking
company, every fragment of flesh
available having been necessary to
build up their heads until presentable.
According to the railroad people.
Mangum passenger train No. 700 was
coming toward Chickasha at the reg
ular rate Of speed and when approach
ing the crossing five miles north Of
here and half mile beyond what is
known as the Solito siding, Engineer
James Hutson blew his whistle at the
usual distance.
The topography of the country
around this place is such, it is claim
ed, as to enable an autoist to see a
train for a distance of at least half a
mile. The train had almost reached
the siding when Fireman Porter real
lied that the driver of the car would
attempt TO cross the track from his
side and hastily notified the engineer.
The latter, who could not see the car
from his side Of the cab, did not know
OF its ox.Gt cnce until the moment Of
co.Lpact when, striking the car amid
ship, it threw it for a distance of one
hundred feet, carrying with it the even
then lifeless body Of the boy driver
who suffered instant death Mr..
Johns body was carried for some dis
tance by the engine before the train
was brought to stop.
The remains were borne to the train
and brought into Chickasha to the en-
balming parlors of Claycomb and An
derson. The families Of the victims
we're Immediately notified of the terri
Bile misfortune which had befallen
them. Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Johns, the lat
ter brother and partner of the de-
ceased. were at Hampstead, Texas,
attending the funeral OF Mrs. Johns
father and came on Immediately to
Chickasha, Mr.. Johns arriving early
this morning and his wife expecting
to arrive on the "Firefly" this even
ing.
Grandma Johns, who had remained
in Chickasha, was advised Of her sons
death Immediately following the acci-
dent and the shock is said to have
caused very serious condition.
"Dad" Williams, an employe Of the
gin Of Grover Bryant at Pocasset, was
an eye witness. He told the father
of the dead boy that he was on the
opposite side Of the track and saw
the Ford coming at rate Of about
fifteen miles an hour. He shouted to
Egbert to stop but the latter appar-
emily did not hear him or paid no at
tention to him. Mr.. Williams beliey-
ed the boy did not see the approach
ing train. The Pocasset man had
stopped his team on the opposite side
Of the crossing in order to let the
train pass.
The funeral services over the de-
ceased will take place tomorrow.
Those of Mr.. Johns win be held from
the residence of his brother, Ed Johns,
at SOP South Fourteenth street, at
l1O:30 a. m, to be conducted by Rev.
Edward B. Teis, burial in Odd Eel