4-11-1905 Columbus Commercial
submitted by Clare Herrick

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Gregory P. Humphries Killed by Explosion

Conductor Daugherty and Negro Fireman Seriously Injured.  Disaster Occurred Yesterday Afternoon at Artesia.
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Gregory P. Humphries was instantly killed at Artesia about 8 o'clock Saturday Afternoon by the explosion of the boiler of engine No. 23, on which he was employed as an engineer, his body being hurled through the air four hundred and eighty feet, while William Davis, his negro fireman was thrown in an opposite direction landing under a seed house some distance away.  Conductor Felix Daugherty who runs on the main line was passing near when the explosion occurred and he too was severely and probably fatally injured, his skull being fractured and the bomes of his limbs and body badly broken.  Both he and the fireman were brought to Columbus for treatment.  As to the cause of the explosion, no one will ever know, as the engine and boiler are total wrecks, parts of them having been blown from a half to three quarters of a mile, lending with great force and knocking immense holes in the ground.  

After the explosion, several cars loaded with coal caught fire and they, with a seed house, were totally destroyed.

Such accidents are always sad, but in this instance, it is peculiarly so because of the sorrow already in the home caused by the accidental drawning of Henry Humphries, a brother to Gregory, and whose body was laid to rest only a few days ago. The whole community sympathizes with the family in their afflictions.  Mr. Humphries leaves a wife and a number of other relatives to mourn his untimely death.  The remains were brought to Columbus Saturday night and carried to the family home.  Arrangements for the funeral had not been made at the time of going to press, but it is possible that the body will be carried to Tuscaloosa for burial, that being the home of his wife's people.