Misc. Notes
OBITUARYPittsylvania Farmer Killed by Train (1923 entered in pen)
Tuesday afternoon Dennis S. Scruggs, a prosperous Pittsylvania county farmer was killed at Ward’s Spring one mile north of Gretna when struck by southbound pasenger (typo – passenger) train No. 135 of the Southern Railroad.
According to section men, who were working near the scene of the accident and noticed Mr. Scruggs sitting on the bank along the railway tracks some time before the arrival of the passenger train shortly after three in the afternoon, when the train was near by the man walked out into the middle of the track and followed it some distance ahead of the train. When the engineer sounded his whistle, the man got over the rail on the end of the ties and quickened his pace along the track in the direction of the train. The impact of the locomotive hurled the body in abroken mass a short distance from the track, death result instantly.
No good reason for Mr. Scruggs being at the site of the accident can be given, it being several hundred yards north of the highway and near no crossing. Statements made to members of the family earlier in the day would indicate suicide
Mr. Scruggs was about forty five years of age and owned a fine tobacco and grain farm situated on the Gretna-Long Island soil road something like a mile and a half from the scene of the accident. He was a member of the Christian church.
The deceased is survived by a widow and seven children, the oldest of which is a boy twenty years of age. Also his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Scruggs, of near Gretna, survive as well as two sisters and four brothers. They are Mrs. John Murphy, of Lynchburg, Mrs. A. T. Colbert of Gretna, Willie Scruggs of Burkeville, R. E., M. O., and E. R. Scruggs, of Gretna.
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