Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1922-12-13
UP TRAGEDY
Of THE RAILROAD
CROSSING DEATHS
Five Lives Snuffed Out and Two Seri-
ously Injured; Cost Railroad
Over $4,000.

Most persons in the county remem-
Der more or less vividly the results of
the terrible accident in August, 1917,
when five persons were killed and two
seriously injured by the west-bound
passenger train striking an automo-
bile at what is known as the Olds
crossing, on the east side of town.
1t is also know that suits were
brought in most of the cases and dam
lagos recovered. Just this week about
the last of the damage money is being
turned over to the rightful receivers
and that tragedy will soon be a closed
page of unfortunate and much regret
ted history of our town.
1t will be remembered that Jake
Hichew was driving west at rapid
rate that fateful August afternoon,
with six women in his car. Just as he
reached the Olds crossing the west
bound passenger train struck the car
in the middle, completely wrecked it,
carried the car more than 100 yarGs,
injured two and killed FIVE persons.
The persons killed yere Jake Hichew
Mrs. Phillip Vanhoy, Mrs. VIM.
Hedgecoth, Miss Mable Dayton, and
Miss Rosa Cox. Those injured were
Miss Dorothy Dayton and Miss Edna
Hughes Miss Hughes recovered in
about week to such an extent that
she was able to go to her home at
Pomona. Miss Dayton was SO seri-
ously injured that she was in a hos
pital at Nashville for weeks lingering |
between life and death. Youth and a
strong constitution finally triumphed
and she was able to return home, but
was lamed for life.
The friends of Jake Hichew reside
in the west and no suit was brought |
by them for damages.
Suit was brought by Phillip Van
Joy, against the railroad for the death |
of is wife and verdict was rendered
in is favor for $4,000.
William Hedgecoth brought suit for
the death of his wife and he was
awarded $1,000.
Suit was brought by William Day.
ton for the death of his daughter,
Mable, and the case was recently com
promized on payment of $I,25o.
Mr.. Cox was awarded a like amount
upon a compromise for the death OF
his daughter, Rosa.
Dorothy Dayton was awarded dam
ages in the sum of $1,000, which was
paid short time ago.
Miss Edna Hughes did not bring
suit, it seems.
Thus it will be seen that the total
damages awarded amount to more than
:wenty thousand dollars. This, coup
ed with the costs, very likely MADE
he total cost to the railroad not very
much short Of 100000 That crossing
S still there in the same condition it
vas when the tragedy occurred There
las been much ,aij. that an o1er-pass
,houd be built there for protection
If the public, but the city is not able
o do it nor do the city fathers feel
t to be the duty of the city to build
he over-pass. The railroad could
,uild an over-pass for much less than
t has cost them to satisfy the claims
n this single tragedy. Nothing is con-
emplated by the Tennessee Central
10 far as we are aware.
In this connection it is interesting
O note that many persons have said
hey felt that the entire blame for the
lccident was due to the lack of proper
are on the part of the driver or the
ll-fated car. The evidence adduced in
ourt clearly shows that the juries
hought otherwise. Ii