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<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>May 12,
1909</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=4>NEWSPAPER MAN HURT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>H. M. Smythe Thrown Under Wheels of Train and Narrowly
Escapes Death</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left> Henry M. Smythe, editor and publisher of the
Pocahontas Field Headlight at Bramwell, while attempting to board the Clinch
Valley train yesterday afternoon as it was pulling out of the station here, was
thrown and severly bruised about the head and shoulders, receiving a severe
shaking up. Mr. Smythe was on his way to Tazewell to spend a few days with
his family when the accident occurred and the fact that he was not more
seriously injured was due to the quick work of clear minded bystanders, who
snatched him from beneath the train before the wheels had caught him. An
Italian who was attempting to board the train at the same time ws thrown but not
badly injured, being able to rise without assistance. Mr. Smythe was taken
to the Altamont Hotel, where his injuries were dressed by Dr.Fox, and was
resting well last night.</DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=left>[<EM>Accidents to people attempting to board departing trains
were frequently reported in the newspapers of that time, probably because the
cars had open vestibules and there was nothing to stop someone from trying to
mount the steps as they came by. Closed vestibule cars were a safety
improvement in this respect it would seem to me.</EM>]</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Script size=6>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>