From the Buffalo Reflex

June 22, 1922

 

Harley Lemons, Clyde Perryman and Lloyd Keith, Dallas County Boys who met death near Newton, Ks first of last week while on their way to work in the harvest fields, were brought back to their respective communities and laid to rest last Thursday.  Lemons and Perryman at Lone Rock and Keith at Sweaney Cemetery.  The Rev. J. Williams conducted the services.

 

The exact particulars concerning the circumstances in which the boys were killed are not known, but it is positively certain that the boys had all bought tickets to a destination in Ks.  Two of the crowd of five boys were seated in another end of the car from the other three.  They fell asleep and were carried two stations past Newton, where they should have changed cars, and could not find the three boys on the train when they woke.  They were given passes and came back to Newton next morning, but could not find the other boys.  They took the train for their destination but the boys were not there.  Upon coming back to Newton they learned of the tragedy that had befallen their companions.

 

According to J.D. Babb, who went to Newton, it is supposed the boys were walking on the double tracks out of Newton the way the train had carried the two boys asleep.  They were on one track while a train was passing when another train without a headlight struck them and dashed their life out.  One boy's cap was found on the pilot of the engine which had no headlight.  Their bodies gave evidence that this is the case for their ankles were broken and the back of their heads caved in.

 

It is one of the saddest accidents in the history of Dallas County and the grief stricken families have the deepest sympathy of our whole citizenry.