The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-06-05
YOUNG WALTER BERRY
MEETS TRAGIC DEATH
FAST FREIGHT HITS ROAD TRAC-
TOR HE WAS OPERATING.
Skull is Crushed and Death Results
i'm Few Minutes After
Accident.

Walter Berry, son Of Mr.. James
Berry who lives five miles east OF Dill
lon, was killed by fast freight at
the Main street crossing of the At
lantic Coast Line at Latta Thursday
evening. Mr.. Berry was driving a
road tractor and did not see the ap-
preaching train until it was almost
upon him. The tragedy was witness
ed by a number of people who saw
the rapidly approaching train and
shouted warnings which Mr.. Berry
failed to hear until it was too late
for him to save himself.
Mr.. Berry had recently returned
from the army and was in the en-
ploy of the county.
The following testimony was given
at the inquest held by Coroner Gas
que:
Mr.. T. j. Bass says: Kornblut and
myself were standing in front of his
store and we saw Mr.. Berry pass with
tractor going west. heard some one
holler and Mr.. Berry cut tractor TO the
left, then raised up and sat down and
the train struck the engine of the
tractor and threw him out towards
1.-The box car. There was no blowing of
whistle or ringing of bell"
H. A. Bethea says: Frank Bethea,
Mr.. Tilton and myself were at an au-
tomobile standing at the side of the
F. & NJ. Bank as Mr.. Berry came
down the street going west. We OBJ
served that he was not conscious of
the approaching train. We all began
to holler to attract his attention but
we failed to do so. He approached
the track and about the time he
reached the track he discovered the
train. He then gave his car quick
turn the same way the train was 60
ing. Just as he made the turn and
applied the breaks the train struck
him. Whether the train blew or rang
the bell can't say. 1 don't think the
wheels of his tractor got on the
track. He fell right near the train.
pulled him up from right near the
moving train. We had picked him up
and carried him to Kornblut's store
before engine of the train came back.
The train was running fast for a
freight train"
H. NJ. Tilton says: "H. A. Bethea,
]. F. Bethea and myself were at side
of F. & NJ. Bank talking. heard the
train blow up the road and 1 noticed
Mr.. Berry coming with tractor. be-
gan to holler to draw his attention
to the train and he didn't seem to
hear me. He ran right up to the
tracks and stopped and about\ that
time the train struck the tractor.
When the train struck the front of
his car it threw the tractor near the
train and Mr.. Berry about. 15 feet.
don't know whether train was blow
ing for crossing or not. The train
was running about 25 or 80 miles
an hour"
]. F. Bethea says: "Mr. Tilton, H.
A. Bethea and myself were standing
at side of F. & NJ. Bank and Mr.. Til
ton began to holler and l looked and
saw Mr.. Berry with the tractor and
the train coming a short distance
down the track. We all began TO hol-
ler but he didn't seem to hear us, but
lust as he got to the track he looked
and saw the train and he stopped his
tractor and cut it to the left. The
train struck him about this time
and knocked him about 15 feet. H.
A. Bethea and myself ran to him and
we pulled him from as near the pass
ing train as it was possible for per-
son to be and not be run over. We
carried him over to sidewalk in front
of Kornblut's store 1t looked to me
like Mr.. Berry did all he could to
save himself after he discovered the
train. didn't hear the bell ring OF
whistle blow. 1t looked TO me like
train was in about rs feet of him
when he saw it,"
{ c. S. Bethea says: Il saw Mr.. Ber.
ry stop his tractor when his attention
was called by people hollering al
him. His tractor stopped few inches
from the nearest rail. The step of the
engine hit the tractor, pitching him