The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-05-30
TWO SAD DEATHS
IN LAURFNS COMPANY
ROy Hickman and William
GwaItney Dead.
GWAlTNEY KILLED
BY PASSING TRAIN
Two Men were Popular Members OF
the Company now Eilcampcd at
Spnrtanburg. Bodies Laid to Rest
Here Sunday with Military HonOrs.

Here Sunday with Military Hon0rs.
The company roll of the Traynham
Guards, the local military company
now stationed at Spartanburg doing
guard duty, was twice reduced Satur-
day by the death Of valuable members
Of The company. About noon Saturday
Private Roy Rckman, who had been
critically i'll for about ten days, passed
away at the Stccdy Hospital in Spar
tanDurg and just Il few hours later
Private William Gwaltncy died in the
Good Samaritan Hospital as the result
Of injuries received during the morn
ing when lie was struck by swiftly
moving freight train on the Southern
Railway near Lawsons Ford trcstc.
The death Cf the two men cast a gloom
over The camp, both being popular
members Of tho company and these
hcing the first losses by death since
the company was mustered into the
federal service before the Mexican
trouble. The news was received in
Laurcns Saturday evening and caused
general sorrow. Both men had been
in the service since before the McNi-
can trouble last summer and had seen
service on the border. Hickman was
chccry, light-hcartcd fellow, always
in a good humor and possessing happy
qualities Of comradcship and Congcn-
iality. Gwaltney was a Quicter and
more serious minded man, bent upon
his duty and obligations, yet, like his
other comradc, popular in camp and
wherever known. Both were known
as good soldiers, prompt and obcdicnt
in the discharge of their duties.
Private Hickman was not in the best
OF health when the call came to be
mustered into the federal service last
month. About ten days ago his condi-
ton became such that it was thought
best to send him to the hospital,
though no uncasincss was felt about
his condition. About rhc middle OF
last week he became worse and by
Friday lic was in prccarons state
his relatives being sent for to be al
his bedside. Saturday morning he raj
lied and it was thought tina, tho worst
had passed, but about noon he had q
relapse and shortly afterwards passed
away. The body was brought to IIau-
rcnS on the early morning train sun
day an escort from the company undcl
Cant. Arthur Lee accompanying tho
body home The funeral party was mel
at the train by detail from the But.
lcr Guards, under Capt. Workman
and a number Of people who had be
come aware OF It's expected arrival
The body was carried 30 the Lauren:
cemetery under military escort ant
laid 10 rest with military honors, scr
vices being conducted by Rcv. J. ].
McLin.
The death Of Private Gwaltncy came
about in a way that is not entirely
known. He had just been relieved
from his post guarding the Lawson
Fork trcstlc and was conVcrSing viii
Private Mage McAbcc who had jus
relieved him. 1t appears that Gwalt
ney was sitting on a cross-tic whcl
the freight train rushed up at hiGl
rato Of speed. McAboG turned his hcat
TO avoid the dust and cindcrs and tool
for granted that Gwaltney arose t
avoid the train. Whether he succeed
ed in arising or not is not known an'
it Is one theory that the train struci
him before ell was able to get VI
ginc would most probably have seer