Dillon Herald Volume 22 #35
pg 1 issue dated June 21, 1917

TRAIN MUTILATES MAN
Andrew Herring Killed at Junction of Seaboard and Coast Line Railroads

Andrew Herring, a deaf and dumb mute well-known about town, was instantly killed by the southbound Seaboard passenger train about 12 0'clock Thursday. The scene of the tragedy was at the junction of the Seaboard and Coast Line Tracks near Dillon Mills.

Mr Herring had been working in a nearby field all the morning and was on his way home to dinner. It was his custom to walk upon the track for a short distance on his way to and from the field to his home and it is claimed that he had been warned of the danger of using the tracks as a pathway. The train struck him from behind, killing him instantly and badly mutilating his body.

Accompanying Mr Herring at the time of the tragedy was a little boy who did not hear the approaching train. The operator in the signal tower saw the danger and rushing out of the tower he seized the little boy and dragged him from the track, but he didn't have time to warn Mr Herring of the approaching train.

Mr Herring was 55 years of age and had been deaf and dumb all his life. Notwithstanding his affliction he was an industrious man and had always managed to earn a living for his family. The coroner held an inquest over the body that afternoon, the jury returning a verdict that the deceased had come to his death by being struck by a Seaboard Train, and the funeral was held the following day.

Transcribed and contributed by Carolyn Klear, 20 May 2002

Copyright © 2002, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014 Victoria Proctor. All rights reserved.
This WEB page is copyrighted and may not be copied, altered, converted or uploaded to any electronic system or BBS, message board, mailing list or web site, nor included in any software collection or print collection of any type without the express written permission of the author.