Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Madison County readers were saddened by the headlines in the Madison paper in April of 1902.
W.E. Howell, a flagman for the Seaboard Air Line Road, was killed in Wildwood, Fla., just days before his wedding. As the train was leaving Wildwood, Howell was sitting on the edge of one of the back cars. His fiance was waving to him from the depot, so he turned to face her and wave back.
As he was doing this, he was struck by a water spout from a nearby tank. The blow swept him from the train and threw him under the wheels of the train. His sweetheart was the only eyewitness to the tragedy. She accompanied his body to town and relayed the events of this horrible tragedy. Thankfully, it is believed Howell died when he was struck in the head by the water spout, instead of the hideous injuries received as the train's wheels mangled his body.