The Mena weekly star., 1918-02-14
TWO NENA DOYSDIE
 IN FREIGHT WRECK
Earl Webb and Johnnie Swift Vic- tims in EEead-End Collision Sun day Afterno0n--Walter Cecil
 Injured-Stealing Rides.

A disastrous railroad wreck oc- cured Sunday afternoon at about } o'clock near milepost 3S2 about two miles south of Mena when freight train No. 52, northbound and an ex- tra freight, southbound, met in head end collision, resulting in the death of two Mena boys, the injury of an- other, and the destruction of much railroad property and merchandise.
 The dead are Earl Webb, better known as "Snookums" Webb, son of Mrs. Dora Webb of this city, and Johnnie Swift. son of N. W. Swift, who with his family recently came to Mena from Oklahoma City. The injured lad is Walter Cecil, son Of Mrs. Bettie Cecil, living on the south side. Still another lad, Vernon Byrd, seems to have been with the boys, but escaped injury by jumping from the train. The boys were stealing ride on the southbound freight, the report being that they expected to go to Nandervoort and then re- turn to Mena on passenger train No. i. or else steal return ride on an- other freight. A fifth lad, Sidney Cecil, had also expected to make the trip but failed to get on.
 The Cecil boy was easily extrieat- ed from the wreckage, and after be- ing given emergency treatment by Drs. Hawkins, Watkins and Hilton he was taken to the home of his mother. where he is still in critical condition, tho it has been ascer- tained that he has sustained no fractures, and that his injuries con- sist of cuts and bruises. The other two boys were pinned under the wreckage of the car loaded wilh steel pipe and they were not releas- ed until some time after the arrivai of the wrecker. Their bodies were so badly mangled that it was evident that they had met death instantly. After being extricated, the bodies were brought to Mena, that of Earl Webb to the Patton undertaking es- tablishment and that Of Johnnie Swift to the Frazier undertaking rooms. where they were prepared for burial.
 Coroner Dr. c. L. Baker who was on the scene empanelied a Jury consisting of Clifton Cunningham, Boat Garden, A. P. Schott Hugh Gatelev. Albert Berger, R. l.. MOTHS, II w Storey. Cap. Cannon, Chas. pirtle George Smitherman, Boyd TafIlin and oscar Afford. After view inc inc wreck and the dead bodies, the jury adjourned until Monday, and then further adjournment was taken until Friday morning at y o'clock when it will again be con- vened at the undertaking rooms or | c. Frazier, it being expected that inc Cecil boy will have recovered sufficiently by that time to appear before the jury. ~
 The wreck was accustomed by the failure of the conductor m charge of inc southbound freight tram 10 observe the order which at that hour gave No. B the right Of way:
 The collision and wreck occurred near the ]. A. York farm at noint where there is double curve in inc track. SO that the approach inc trains could not he seen untii they were almost upon each other, hut the airhrakes were appllen, anu if seemed that train No 52 had come to sfandstill when the collision oc- curred However. both engines were
 moro or less damaged. the pi- loi an each being torn oil, the nilot beam on each being mashed al most to a pulp, and one eyllnder oh aaeh heinz crushed in. In addition. inc water tank of the soutnDoulu engine was crushed m by the iiilpss' nf a ear. of bran. which was lmmeui- stelv hehind the engine, and when vvas felescoped until 1t was only faw feel wide. and the bran seal tered all over the wreckaee. Asius from the ear of bran. q ear oi steer nine and a ear of flour were wreck aa on fhe southbound train. ana three cars were wrecked on tran No. 5. The track was torn up TOT from t2 to i5 feet. but neither oi tue engines left the road bed.
 passenQer trains No. 3 and NO. I. d,,e here respectively al 2:57 o'elock 
 and m 3.55 D. m. made transfer oi nassengers. baggage and express at inc point of the wreck. and the passenger trains due Monday morn ing i were held until the track was cleared about 3 o'clock Aanaay morning. No. 1 heinz held in Mena and No. ? at Hatfield.
 The wrecking train and crew ar p;vnd from Heavener about o'clock Sunday night. and after working all up until about 9 o'clock Monday when the track was repaired and traffic resumed.
 The extra freieht train was m Charge of Conductor S. D Allen with John Newcomer as ehgineer, ana train No. 52 was in charge of Y D. Orr with ]. H. Worrell as enGineef-
 B. s. Peteflsh Loses Mother
 R. s. peteflsh of Acorn was ad-