Look Back In Yalobusha History
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Casey Jones in the cab of his engine.
The 123rd anniversary of the death of Water Valley’s most famous former citizen will be observed this weekend. Engineer John Luther “Casey” Jones was killed in the early morning hours of April 30, 1900 in what was described at the time as an unremarkable train wreck. Jones was one of around 300 engine men who died on America’s dangerous single-track railroads in that year alone.
It would take another decade and the injection of a dose of early pop culture in the form of a song before Casey Jones would become part of American history. The sheet music for Casey Jones, the brave engineer, was published in 1909. It was based on a simple tune being sung by around the railroad yard at Canton by laborer Wallace Saunders. Over the decades that followed, the song sold millions copies of sheet music, making it the equivalent of a platinum hit by today’s standards.
Water Valley’s railroad heritage and the Casey Jones story are inextricably tied together. In the middle of that knot of stories, tales, fables, antidotes, and sometimes truths was the late Bruce Gurner, who loved to tell them all. Gurner was a retired railroader and school teacher who spent almost half a century researching Jones and the Mississippi Division of the Illinois Central Railroad, which was headquartered in Water Valley. He is considered one of the foremost authorities on Jones and the wreck at Vaughan.
The late Bruce Gurner is pictured with a photo of Casey Jones at the former Casey Jones museum in Vaughan. Gurner was considered one of the foremost authorities on Jones and the wreck at Vaughan.
Most of the information we have about Jones was uncovered years ago. Very little has come out since then. But, one bit of history that Gurner mentioned 30 years ago was about his theory regarding who was responsible for the crash. He believed that the engineer of the train that Casey Jones hit at Vaughan on April 30, 1900 may have been responsible for the accident. “I’m convinced he might have killed Casey Jones and I will tell you why,” Gurner said during a 1989 taped interview, which was only recently discovered.
Gurner said that engineer John Markette was double-heading on Illinois Central freight train no. 83 southbound. He was pulling 43 cars, according to Gurner. “That was a long train in 1900.”
As the train approached Vaughan, two drawbars were pulled out causing the last few cars and the caboose to be stuck on the mainline, said Gurner. A drawbar is part of the coupler.
“That is very unusual,” he added. “I’ll bet you that Markette pulled one of his fits right there and snatched that engine wide open and pulled the train in two (two disconnected pieces). Ol’ Casey hit it before they could get off the mainline.”
Engineer Markette had a reputation for having a bad temper, Gurner explained. “ He would have these fits of temper and do some very bad things.”
John Markette
The engineer had a long history of conflict with his co-workers, according to testimony at the trial of fireman Mort Turner, who shot and killed Markette in 1925. He was found not guilty after testifying that Markette was threatening him with a pickax.
Casey’s Final Run
On the night of April 29, 1900, Casey and engine 382 with Sim Webb firing were listed out of Memphis on train #1 with six cars southbound for Canton. Conductor was J. C. Turner. The scheduled departure time was 11:15. Records indicate he left at 12:50; one hour and thirty-five minutes late.
A good engine, a good fireman, a light train and away late; the perfect setting for a record run. He made that record run too, if the oft quoted departure time of 12:50 is correct, for Casey went to Goodman on time for a meet with #2.
While Casey was rolling south, the stage was being set for his tragic wreck. Freights #72 and #83 were both in the passing track at Vaughn and there were more cars than the track would hold. It was necessary for these trains to move north or south to clear the main line switches in order to allow other trains to pass; this is known as a saw- by.
Meanwhile, northbound local passenger #26 arrived from Canton and had to be sawed in on the house track west of the main line. As #83 and #72 sawed back south to clear the north passing track switch, an air house broke on #72 and he couldn’t move. Several cars of #83’s train were still out on the main line above the north switch.
Engine 382 crashed through the caboose and several cars and came to rest on the right side pointing back north. Casey was fatally wounded in the throat. He was carried one-half mile to the depot were he died lying on a baggage wagon.
Through The Years From The Herald
• 20 years ago, May 1, 2003 – Alana Reed was selected as the 2003 Watermelon Queen at the annual pageant. Anna Jane Crow was first alternate and Amanda Lynn Gilley was second alternate.
Dale Tyler was named First Lady of College Football by the American Football Foundation.
Toni Hill was pictured explaining auto insurance to members of the WVHS computer discovery class Arnisha Fondon, Sandra Rockette and Jeffrey Bell.
• 30 years ago, Apr. 29, 1993 – Attending an education program sponsored by the local SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) chapter were Jill Hyde, Kyle Dean, Alicia Sprouse, Misty King, Jason Shelton, Freddie Harley, Christy Wilbourn, Keith Jones, Demetric Weekly, Latina Barr, Katrina Barr, Quiana Turner, Wendy Hollinger, Dana Ross and Amanda Langdon.
David Wood placed fifth in the state at the Junior Roundup Beef Show in Jackson.
• 40 years ago, May 5, 1983 – James Daniels was honored by the State Department of Welfare as outstanding volunteer for the Yalobusha Welfare Department’s transportation program.
The Yalobusha Baptist Association had completed organization and was working out of an office in Water Valley with Mrs. Odel Sansom as secretary. Rev. Guy Reedy was chairman of missions committee and Dr. B. C. Sellers was association moderator.
• 50 years ago, May 3, 1973 – Jerry Holt of the Delta State football team was named best blocker and permanent co-captain.
Pvt. Terry Allen received two letters of commendation from his commanding officer at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
• 60 years ago, May 2, 1963 – C. L. “Buster” Beene was seriously injured April 29 while at work at Hendricks Machine Shop.
High winds damaged several properties in the Pine Valley area. Leroy Stewart’s barn was blown down, Mrs. J. C. Cade had her front porch blown off, Ivan Edwards had barn damage, R. V. House had roof damage to his house and C. B. Gardiner had barn damage and his TV aerial was blown down.
Danny Ross Ingram was elected vice-president of the School of Agriculture at Mississippi State University.
Former Water Valley resident James Cofer, 40, was killed in a plane crash off the coast of Texas.
• 70 years ago, Apr. 30, 1953 – Maggie Martin of the Bryant Home Demonstration Club was state winner in the canning contest 5-jar exhibit and was awarded a cash prize and shipment of fruit jars.
The local draft board No. 87 inducted five men including Bobby Tyler, John Eddie Haywood Jr., J. C. Turner (all of Water Valley), Elvin Britt and Mat Willieseal Campbell Jr. (Coffeeville).
News from our men in service: Cpl. Earl Kehoe Jr. graduated from the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officers Academy in Munich. Pfc. Willie C. Booker returned from a tour with the 25th Infantry in Korea, Journalist First Class James R. McCain sailed into Hong Kong on the USS Valley Forge, an attack aircraft carrier. Airman Thomas Hunter Few was promoted to Airman First Class.
• 80 years ago, Apr. 29, 1943 – Mrs. Ella White dropped by the Herald office to renew her subscription and said she thought the photo of new Herald Editor Edward B. Shearer put in by former Editor Mullen was that of a gangster. “Mr. Mullen has the picture of a gangster on the front page of the Herald this week,” she told Shearer. She added that Shearer didn’t look quite as criminal in person as in the photo.
