29 July 1905
Macon Weekly Telegraph, Georgia
Viewed online at GenealogyBank.
HENRY C. ROSS FALLS TO DEATH FROM TRAIN
UNCONSCIOUS AND DYING MAN IS FOUND UNDER TRESTLE NEAR MILLEDGEVILLE, GA -- FIRST BELIEVED TO BE EMMETT J. MIMS OF REYNOLDS -- IT WAS LATER FOUND TO BE INSURANCE MAN OF MACON
The body of a dying man, in all probability Henry C. Ross of 210 First street, Macon, was found under a trestle on the Georgia railroad near Milledgeville yesterday morning. The unconscious man was taken to Milledgeville, where he died late yesterday afternoon. He never recovered consciousness.
The man had evidently fallen from the excursion train which was run from Macon to Charleston Thursday.
It was at first thought that the victim of the accident was Emmett J. Mims, a prominent citizen of Reynolds, Ga., but this was later found to be a mistake. The clothes of the man were examined and they were marked "H. C. Ross." In one of the pockets was a book of insurance statistics, bearing the imprint of the Provident Savings Company.
This fact was telephoned to The Telegraph last night, and after some investigation, evidence was secured which leads to the belief that the victim was Henry C. Ross, a life insurance solicitor connected with the Provident Savings Company. Henry C. Ross lived with his wife, formerly Miss Nettie Barnes, at 210 First street.
An effort was made last night to communicate with George Ross, the brother of Henry C. Ross, but the former was at the bedside of their father, Mr. Wash Ross, at Hillsboro, Ga.
Mistaken Identity.
A peculiar feature of the deplorable accident was the fact that the body was first identified at Milledgeville as that of Emmett J. Mims of Reynolds, Ga., one of the most prominent citizens of that town. The body was taken in charge by the Masons and Knights of Pythias at Milledgeville, and the relatives of Mr. Mims were notified. Mr. Mims' widowed mother was prostrated by the news.
A delegation of Masons and Knights of Pythias from Reynolds went over to Milledgeville, accompanied by Mr. Mims' grandfather, Capt. E. Aultman, but when they arrived in Milledgeville they found that the dead body was not that of Mr. Mims.
Mrs. Henry C. Ross was not in the city last night, being at the home of her father-in-law out in Jones county. Her father, Mr. Wiley J. Barnes, was notified of the death.
