Henryetta Daily Free-Lance – 1922 (George Riley Hall, Editor & Publisher)

July 14, 1922

WATCHMAN IS KILLED ON THE FRISCO BRIDGE

Earnest Strunk, Frisco watchman, was killed at an early hour this morning when a locomotive struck him. The body was bruised and hurt in several places, and the back of the head was torn away. Death must have been instantaneous.

The remains were taken to Lehr and Nave undertakers, and prepared for burial. The young man leaves a wife. They live northeast of town.

The story is simple. Strunk and a companion named S. T. Priest were assigned to the little bridge that cross Coal Creek just south of town. The bridge is merely a long trestle, and on the east side is a little foot-bridge.

These two men were assigned to watch the bridge.

There was, of course, nothing to do, but wait for morning. Growing tired, they sat down on the walk.

Doubtless both of them dropped off into slumber. It was just before dawn, and the drowsiness that comes with an all-night vigil the cool, sweet air of the early morning all tended to put them to sleep.

Suddenly, according to our information, Mr. Priest says the noise of an approaching train roused him.

He saw Shrunk jump up, but instead of bugging the foot-bridge, he jumped out the other way and onto the track.

The entire affair occurred in seconds, and Priest hurried to report the matter. The ambulance hurried to the scene and the remains were still lying on the cross-ties between the rails. Unfortunately there were portions of the back of the head found on the grounds under the trestle.

Funeral arrangements had not been completed, but doubtless the body will be buried in West Lawn tomorrow afternoon.

Questioned about the matter, Agent Gartland explains that these two men were section men, but had been assigned this special duty at this particular time as a precautionary measure against harm to bridges.

EDITOR'S NOTES

That feathery figure dropped into a crowd at Tulsa last night must have startled the people of that city. He was tarred and feathered, and bore a placard reading: “I am a sure bondsman for all crooks.” Possibly his experience may help him.

Six feet of water is reported in the city lake in addition to the markings of last week. Six perpendicular feet is estimated to save the city about fifteen hundred dollars in pumping expenses. Besides, the rain water is so soft and nice!

Chairman Hooper is reported to be still hopeful. Well it is time for something to be done. The Texas governor says he will send no troops to guard the Katy road. Robertson says Harding cannot handle the situation. It looks as if something might happen, and that that right now.

Our people complain that abundant rain is helping the boll worm. But it is a great enemy to “nubbins.”

The wrecking of The Hague financial parley is a small matter compared with the death trap into which a train was run in West Virginia today.

Those three Morris men should leave word where they go. Just think of having hundreds of neighbors hunting for their dead bodies, and they walked in, stating that they had been fishing!

Yes, the weeds will grow faster in the back yard now since these last three downpours of rain.

CHARGED WITH LARCENY

Following the two fistic encounters of yesterday in which one Macey was an actor Constable Tate arrested Macey this morning on a Charge of unlawfully removing certain articles from the restaurant which he formerly ran.

Canned goods and dishes are the articles held at police headquarters and which constitute the basis for the charge.

The case will come before Justice Sam Davis, and the city has nothing to do with. Thus far we have no statement from Macey, and therefore cannot say what his side of it is. There are always two sides, and we have not heard his side of the case.

MORGAN TOMORROW

Charles Ray will be seen in a new and delightful attraction at the Morgan Theatre tomorrow, when “Nineteen and Phyllis,” will open its engagement. In this photoplay, which is one of the finest Ray pictures yet offered to the public, he appears not as a rube, but as a small town dandy, if you can enjoy a delightful romance of youth, tinged with a fine thread of humor and with plenty of fascinating action, then come and see the screens most human actor in a toughly human photoplay. You will not be disappointed. Also Charlie Chaplin in “Shoulder Arms.”

AUTO ACCIDENT

About two o’clock this morning a Ford car driving south on Fifth St., at a high rate of speed struck a low place at the corner of Fifth and Gentry, which was filled with water and skidded, striking the curb. No one was hurt, but the car was torn up, the front wheel snapped off and the fenders broken.

SUIT IN REPLEVIN

The Detroit Bond and Investment company has filed suit in the superior court against the Oklahoma Consolidated Production company, to replevin one Ford automobile and to recover judgment in the sum of $340.02, alleged to be due and owing on a certain promissory note.

TOWN OF DEWAR SUED

J. B. Sullins, doing business as the Sullin Motor Company, has filed suit in the superior court against the Town of Dewar to recover the sum of $452.20 alleged to be due and owing the plaintiff by the defendant for one Fordson tractor.

MARKED THE STREETS

All night long the police force and the fire fighters were busy in the work of marking the streets for both pedestrians and autos.

The markings are painted on the pavement, and each car width is marked at the proper angle while a nice little lane is marked off for pedestrians to cross the street.

A goodly concrete monolith placed in the center of each intersection would be a fine thing. Our neighboring town, Okmulgee has these markers, and they are highly useful.

They are inexpensive and serve to render traffic safer for both auto drivers and foot people.

FROM MRS. WASHBURN

Word has been received by Mr. J. Houston of this city from Mrs. E. E. Washburn at Palo Alto, Calif. giving a few details of the death of her husband a few weeks ago. They were enroot by automobile from Bend, Oregon and were crossing the desert in southern California.

Mr. Washburn was apparently in good health, but the heat of the desert seemed to be too much for him, and he collapsed, dying within a few minutes.

They were near the town of Wickenburg, Arizona. Mrs. Washburn’s sister, Mrs. Taft of Palo Alto, California, was with her at the time of Mr. Washburn’s death. The body was taken to Prescott, Arizona for burial.

Mrs. Washburn stated as soon as she was able to travel, she will return to the city and make her home here.

The friends of Mrs. Washburn will be glad to hear of her returning to this city. She is now with her sister Mrs. Taft in Palo Alto, California.

MORGAN IN PULPIT

Rev. J. C. Curry announces that on Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. he will step down from his pulpit, and invite Barclay Morgan to speak to the audience. As we understand it, Rev. Curry will conduct the service up to that point, and Mr. Morgan will deliver an address which may or may not be a sermon. At any rate it will be worth hearing.

Mr. Morgan possesses remarkable powers as a speaker, and he has determined to use these talents for the good of his fellow creatures in every possible way.

The address will occur at the city auditorium Sunday evening. The Methodists use that church for Sunday School during the time that their new building is in course of construction.

HOME AT LAST

The burial of Corporal Phillips was conducted with all the circumstance of a military funeral. The Veterans of Foreign Wars in full uniform formed the guard of honor and marched the entire distance to the cemetery.

Rev. C. Bowles preached the funeral sermon at the Baptist church at three o’clock in the afternoon, and the flowers sent by many friends indicated the high esteem in which the deceased was held, and the deep feelings of a general country to a soldier boy who died beyond the seas in defense of his country.

The long line of autos, the marching service men and the flower-decked casket made an imposing scene as the procession slowly moved to the cemetery.

At the grave the firing squad discharged the salute to the dead, and the bugle sounded “taps” and then the last act was finished, and the public had paid the utmost respect to the departed.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have the sympathy of a very great many people in the loss of their son.