  1850 - 1905 Sherman Daily Register
Monday, November 28, 1904 pg 1 KILLED IN RUNAWAY PROMINENT PLANTER KILLED IN UNUSUAL MANNER LAST SATURDAY. SCRAPER RAN THROUGH BODY Tom Laughlin Died Within Fifty Minutes After Great Thurst - Talked Till Last With Wife. Saturday afternoon while driving a fractious team of mules attached to stalk cutter, Tom Laughlin, who resides near Farmington, was thrown to the ground and a piece of the machinery ran entirely through his body, death ensuing less than an hour from time of the injury. Funeral yesterday at Baptist church at Farmington; burial at Hall's burying ground. The facts stated in the foregoing are the basis for universal sorrow in the community in which the deceased resided. The occurrence, in its incipiency, like many others which have a very serious beginning, was not such as would indicate the end that resulted, but seemed rather trivial. Mr. Laughlin had given much attention to the matter of handling unruly young stock and no question could arise concerning his ability to handle this particular team to which his death is due. One field of stalks had been disposed of and another was reached by passing over a bridge. In some way one of the wheels of the machine slipped from the bridge and at this the team became frightened. Mr. Laughlin fell clear of the machine, but held on to the team to prevent, if possible, injury to it and the machine, and this lead to his death. The team was now thoroughly aroused and by a quick dash the unfortunate man was thrown with great force onto the cleaner, or scraper used upon the cutter for the purpose of removing mud from the blades. This piece of steel passed entirely through his body, entering just above the left hip and coming out at the back just over the right hip. A small boy chanced to be passing the road just about the time Mr. Laughlin was injured and by him word was sent to the wounded man's wife. She reached her husband's side and asked if he was much hurt. He informed her that he was going to die and would not be alive within an hour, but was prepared for the passing and from that time until the final dissolution came, he engaged in earnest conversation with his wife, giving her instructions about the disposition of the property, care and education of the children, etc. He was conscious fully up to the very moment of his death and scarcely uttered a groan so busy was he with preparation for the going to the great beyond. Deceased was one of the best known and generally liked men in the whole community. His death came as a great shock to all, not alone in his immediate community, but in other localities where the unfortunate man was known. The Baptist church at Farmington is large, but it was not capable of holding more than a third of the people who sought admission. The procession following the remains to the grave was one of the longest ever seen in the country, attesting the popularity of the man who had met a tragic death. Besides the widow there are several children surviving.  Hall Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |