Extracted from The Caldwell Watchman (Columbia, LA)
Friday, September 11, 1914

Death of Tom Mathis

A special from Zwolle, La., to the Shreveport Times under date of Sept. 4, bears the following sad intelligence: ``Tom Mathis, foreman of the local K. C. S. section crew, was struck by a locomotive of the Sabine Lumber Company's log train yesterday afternoon, and injured to such an extent that he died shortly after reaching town.

``The facts as obtained by your correspondent are that the Sabine Lumber Company's log train was coming in, over the main line of the K. C. S. railway with a heavy train, Engineer J. C. Hinson at the throttle. While coming down a steep grade and around the curve a short distance ahead, also headed toward town, Engineer Hinson blew his whistle, reversed his engine, put on his emergency brakes and turned on the sand, in an effort to stop his train, while Foreman Mathis stopped his hand car and made a desperate effort to remove it from the tracks. Seeing that this was impossible, his men left the car and sought places of safety. Mr. Mathis was still struggling with the car when the train struck it.

``The injured man was conveyed to the office of Dr. M. Boring, the company's local physician, where everything possible was done for him, but he lived only a few hours, expiring about 8 o'clock p.m.

``Mr. Mathis had been here only about forty-five days, and was well liked by those who knew him.

``No blame whatever is attached to the train crew an account of the unfortunate occurance, and why Mr. Mathis remained on the track and permitted himself to be run over is an unexplained mystery.

``The remains were borne this afternoon to Columbia, La., where [he] will be interred.''

The remains reached Columbia Saturday morning over the I. M. They were met at the train by the W. O. W. of which order Mr. Mathis was a member who escorted his remains to the Methodist church where services were held, at 11 o'clock, interment being made at the Columbia Cemetery.

He leaves a wife and child to mourn his loss to whom The Watchman extends deepest of sympathy.