The Ouachita Telegraph - Joseph T. Swan Killed by Falling Tree Date: Oct. 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, May 21, 1880 Page 3, Column 1 We are pained to learn that Joseph T. Swan, a resident of the Island, was instantly killed on the 13th inst. Near the Chovan by a tree that half of which fell across the road as he was passing by on his way home from Monroe. Mr. Swan was in a buggy, and accompanied by Mr. W.A. Bumpers. Our readers will, perhaps, recollect a considerable shower in Monroe on that day, accompanied by wind. Doubtless the tree was riven by the wind and fell before he could get beyond its reach. We learn that Mr. Bumpers saw the tree falling, and called to Mr. Swan to hurry up, but the warning came too late. The tree killed him instantly, breaking his arms and literally mashing his body to a jelly, as we understand, but the animal he was driving escaped unhurt. Mr. Swan has been long a resident of this parish, and was a successful planter. As a business man he was honorable and energetic. Few citizens of our parish could be more justly mourned than the one whose sudden death is here chronicled. # # #