Mossy Creek – Local freight train No. 65, Morristown to Knoxville, arriving here at 3:30 p.m., ran over and instantly killed an unknown tramp at the tanks at this station this afternoon.

He was riding between the cars, one car from the engine and as the train started from the tank to take the siding, he fell from his position between. The cars and the entire train passed over his body, cutting him in two from the left hip to right shoulder.

No papers or memoranda were found on his person to identify him, but it was thought he was a Knoxville mechanic as an old Indian doctor who was aboard the train asserted he had seen him there several times in the vicinity of the shops.

Two whiskey bottles, one empty and broken and the other part full were found upon the man's person and W. W. Campbell at Z. T. Godwin's store, who was the only witness to the fatal accident says the tramp must have been drunk as the train was only moving four or five miles an hour and there was no occasion for his falling.

As there was no doubt as to the way in which he met his death, no inquest was held. Only a Barlow knife, pencil and empty purse, besides the bottles were found in his pockets.

Later – It has been learned that the man killed was Sol Pitts of Strawberry Plains.

Source: The Knoxville Daily Journal, Sunday, November 3, 1895

Transcribed by Robert McGinnis