The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1920-04-23
ORDINANCE ASKS
RAILROADS PLACE
CROSSING SIGNAL
Two Fatal Injuries At Dunlap Street
Grade Crossing Causes Action
BY City Council.
MISS MARTHA SWINNEY
FATALLY INJURED FRIDAY
Was Driving Automobile South On
Dunlap Street When Passenger
Train Struck Car.


A second fatal injury in two years
at the hazardous Dunlap street eros
sing has prompted the city council to
take action looking to having this and
other railroad crossings in the city
limits provided with some means OF
protecting pedestrians and vehicles
against approaching trains.
Twenty one months ago DR.. X. j.
McFall, passing over the Dunlap
street crossing of the N. & c. tracks,
met instant death when his automo-
bile was struck by passenger train,
and on LAST Friday morning, Miss
Martha Swinney, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. II. B. Swinney met SINH
lar fate when her Dodge car was
struck by passenger train No. 5, pull
led by engine 44, in charge Of Engin-
eer Jim Herring and Conductor Van
landingham. Miss Swinney was
driving the car at the time and on
the front seat accompanying her was
Mr.. B. M. Cockrell, friend from
jackson, Tenn. According to Mr..
Cockrell they approached the cross
ing at speed not exceeding 15 miles
an hour, in fact he said that on &C
count of the bad condition of the
driveway it was impossible to move
faster That, the view of an ap-
preaching train from the south was
obstructed by an embankment right
at the crossing, but that the ap-
proach of train No. was never
heard until the engine was right on
the car. The pilot of the engine
struck the rear left wheel of the
car, almost breaking the car in two
and practically destroying it. The
force of the collision carried the car
over the north cattle guard and
knocked Mr.. Cockrell several feet
beyond the cattle guard. Miss Swim
ney evidently was caught under the
pilot of the engine and dragged a
distance of some 800 feet. Her head
was completely severed from the
shoulders, the left hand amputated,
and many bruises and decorations.
Death was instantaneous. Mr.. Cock
rell was able to get up after recover
ing from his stunning and began
search for his companion, 'but his
strength failed and he collapsed and
was rushed to the office of local
physician. 1t developed that he
was not internally injured, and he
was able to make the trip to his home
the following day unassisted. Mr..
Cockrell was, however, considerably
bruised about the face and hands. His
watch chain was broken loose from
the watch and pulled from the but
ton hole, but otherwise his clothing
was not even damaged. The body
of Miss Swinney was taken in charge
by a local undertaken.
According to Engineer Herring he
sounded the usual station whistle for
Paris, and subsequently the two long
! and two short signals of the whistle
approaching the crossing, and did
not see the automobile until right
on it. 1t is said that the train was
, moving about 80 miles an hour. II
was stopped within about one train
! length, and the engine and train
, crews and passengers rushed to the
; rescue of the victims.
r There was no protection whatever
at the crossing, and not hearing any
approaching train and the way appar.
5 emily being clear Mr.. Cockrell says il
never occurred to him nor apparent
r ly to the driver of the car that any
( danger was in front.
: Council Takes Action.
\ A special meeting of the city
:. council having been scheduled fol-
: Tuesday night to select new mem
+; Der for the board of education, thu
}, crossing protection matter wa
y brought up. simultaneously peti
{ ton from some 500 citizens demand
!, ing immediate action looking to pro
e lection at this and several other eros
u sings was presented. The council
It proceeded to pass an ordinance re
= quiring both the N. & C. and L.
r N. railroad to provide protection a
/ all grade crossings in the city limits
o The ordinance provides that sue
Q protection shall be both day an
i night and consist of an electrice
IS signal system, or crossing watchmar
e The streets enumerated in the ord
& nance are Dunlap, Blythe, Woo
1t Washington, Ruff, Rison, Depot, "Y
k. crossing on Iron Bank Road, and tn
J. North Poplar street crossing.
IN 1t is a part of the ordinance thu
ir same shall take effect 80 days afte
April goth, and that violation thei
ly of is declared misdemeanor, pun
m ishable by fine of not less than 81
e. nor more than $50 for each offens
d, and that each days failure or refus
Ie to comply with the ordinance shall
lis declared separate offenses.
at 1t is understood that immedia'
X process will be had on the railrof
,ls companies, through their local
n gents.