for the archives;
Jones PILKENS was Minnie Carrico’s 1st husband;
Minnie CARRICO, daughter of Emmanuel and
Sarah Emoline (BROWN) OWENS CARRICO.
NORFOLK DAILY NEWS; JUNE 29, 1907; FRONT PAGE
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SEE FATHER KILLED
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BATTLE CREEK MAN IS GROUND TO DEATH BY TRAIN
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TRYING TO SAVE CHILDREN
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LITTLE TOTS WERE RUNNING TO MEET JONES PILKINS
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HE CLUTCHED AT LOCOMOTIVE
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A Battle Creek Laboring Man was Cut to Pieces by
Westbound Black Hills Passenger Train No. 6, While
on His Way Home At Night
Battle Creek, Neb., June 29--Special to The News: Trying to save
his two little children from death under a train, Jones Pilkens, a
laboring man of Battle Creek, last night ran in front of the
westbound Black Hills passenger train on the Northwestern line here
and was ground to death. His body was severed by the wheels, the
legs being left on the track while the balance of the body was
dragged for some distance.
Children Coming To Meet Him
Mr. Pilkens was walking north from town, toward his home across
the tracks. On the other side of the railroad two little children were
running toward him, to greet their father. The theory is that Pilkens,
seeing the little tots headed toward him and knowing that they were
in danger of being struck by the approaching train, started himself
to run toward the track in order to head off the children.
A Tragic Scene.
Little children of the neighborhood saw the man ground to death.
They witnessed a tragic spectacle when Pilkens, running toward his
own children, got between the rails and realized only too late that
the locomotive was upon him. Apparently determining that he could
not get across the track, he started to retrace his steps, trying to
get off on the south side of the path of the steel monster that was
driving toward him.
Grabs at the Engine.
But the man's movement to clear the locomotive was too late.
After seeming to start back he paused for an instant and then
lunged toward the oncoming iron stallion, his outstretched hands
clutching at the snorting engine as though the man had some hope
of swinging upon the pilot and saving himself.
But his grasp failed to bring rescue and Pilkins, before the gaze
of his children and the gaze of the other little children, was cut down
and climbed over by the train wheels.
No Inquest Held.
No inquest was held, Coroner Kindred of Meadow Grove arrived
this morning but decided that the death was purely accidental and
that no inquest was necessary.
The funeral was held this afternoon from the M. E. Church, Rev.
J. R. Clow conducting the services.
Pilkins was a Virginian who came to Battle Creek about a year ago.
He was about thirty-five years of age and leaves a widow and four
children.
Among the passengers on the train which ran down Jones Pilkins
was Dr. P. H. Salter, the company's surgeon, bound for Neligh. The
nature of the accident, however, made no demands on a physician's
services. The passengers on the Deadwood received their first
information of the tragedy at Meadow Grove, where a message
giving brief details was received.