FULTON COUNTY, GA - NEWSPAPER George W. Thompson ran over by train Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jeanette Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Article about George W. Thompson ran over by train at Whitehall St, Atlanta,GA This is a old/torned clipping (Atlanta Consitution) that was in my mother in law's things stuck in a 1933- 34 Atlanta Street Directory published by Fulton Clinic, 18 1/2 Broad St NW Atlanta,GA. Booklet priced at $.25. Don't know if the date May 18, 1884 which is above it is date of paper or article. I think this clipping was saved because a family member saw this happen. KILLED AT THE CROSSING. George W. Thompson, a Stone Mason, Run Over by a Train at Whitehall Street. Another horrible and tragic death occurred yesterday evening at the Whithall stree crossing. About fifteen minutes past seven o'clock George W Thompson, a stone mason, who lived at 147 North avenue, was run over and instantly killed by a passenger. Thompson was about fifty-eight years of age, but was a strong, hearty man, and his death was as untimely as it was terrible. He was at the Peachtree streetside of the track, and as s____? side. On the track next to the one on which the freight train was , was the Central passenger train. The two trains were moving in opposite directions and Thompson had no opportunity of seeing the train which killed him until he was almost under the wheels. As he stepped in front of the car the train was moving backward into the carshed. He was closely followed by two ladies who would doubtless have been killed also had not Mr. Mat Ryan, chief of the fire department snatched them from in front of the car. He had time to save the ladies only, but at the same time he halloed at Thompson, warning him of his danger. Thompson heard the warning, but it came too late. It seemed to confuse him, and for an instant he stood between the rails as though paralyzed, and he turned to escape on the side from which he started. But he was too slow and before he could move one inch the coach knocked him down. The wheels rolled upon him and two terrible yells of agony went up from Thompson's throat and the life was crushed out of him and his body cut in twain. The cries were heard fully a block and every one who heard them seemed to know that the crossing had proven a death trap again. In a second almost both sides of the road were lined with an excited crowd. The engineer must have known too that something horrible had occurred and in an instant his train was stopped. Mr. Matt Ryan and Mr. James Lynch of the firm of Lynch & Lester quicly removed the body from under the train. Coroner Hillburn was at hand, and a baggage truck was secured. The body was placed upon the truck and removed to Patterson & Bowden's undertaking rooms. The truck was followed by fully three hundred people, and as a many as five hundred persons viewed the remains before the dead man's identity could be established. His face was familiar to many, but no one could tell who he was. He carried a retail grocery store pass book in his pocket, and upon it was the name of Frank Logan. This induced a rumor that the dead man was Frank Logan, the father of the broom manufacturer, but about nine o'clock Mr. Vol Dunning's son recognized the man as G.W. Thompson. Soon this declaration was sustained and in a short while Thompson's home was ascertained and his family sent for. His body was horribly mulilated by the wheels. It was cut in two at the waist, except for a strip of flesh around the backbone. His arms and legs were broken and his face slightly disfigured. His clothing was torn into shreds. Before his family arrived the body had been patched up so that the terrible wounds could not be detected without a close scrutiny. Thompson was at one time engaged with the street broom birgade, and was well known along Marietta street. Coroner Hilburn will hold an inquest this morning. When the train was stopped the rear car was off the track. Some of those who were present claimed that the body had thrown it off, but a Mr. Levi, who lives at the central hotel, saw the accident, and says that the car was off the track when it struck Thompson.