HOLDER, (Mrs.) – (d. 1872)
A Dreadful Accident – The following particulars we take from the Knoxville Chronicle of last Friday morning:
On yesterday morning just before ten o’clock, about a half mile above Rogersville Junction, a dreadful accident occurred whereby Mrs. HOLDER, an old lady probably fifty-five years of age, received injuries of a fatal nature. The train from Bristol was approaching on time and rounding a curve in a cut the engineer saw the lady in question about fifty yards in front endeavoring to drive a hog off the track, clapping her hands and keeping the animal before her. The bell was rung and the whistle blown, but to this she paid no attention, and though the brakes were put on yet the distance was so short that it was impossible to stop the train, the beam in front of the engine striking her in the back and hurling the body against the bank, whence it rolled into a pool of water by the side of the track. As soon as possible the train was stopped and the conductor and others hurried to where Mrs. Holder was lying and picked her up and conveyed her to the home of her son, who lived close by. It is said that her hearing was defective. When the train left she was still alive, but it was supposed her injuries were mortal.
We learn from Mr. DOOLEY, conductor of the freight train which arrived last night at seven o’clock, that Mrs. Holder died about twenty-five minutes after being struck. (page 1)
Source: Cleveland Banner (Cleveland, TN); 26 April 1872. Available online at Google News Archive.