Kern County Obituaries

Jack Moore Watkins

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit 
or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations 
desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain 
the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of 
the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to 
their own work.

Source Unknown; Date Unknown

Freight Car Derailed In Fatal Crash
The colliding of a '51 Cadillac with a Southern Pacific train on the Searles Run 
Monday at 10:30 p.m., took the life of it's driver, Jack Moore Watkins, 30, North 
Hollywood and derailed three cars on the 41-car train.
The fatal crash occurred 12 miles from Highway 6 turnoff to Randsburg on County 
Rd. 671, where the track crosses that road.
Engineer George P. Cozby, Bakersfield, aboard the S. P. Extra 4189, saw Watkins 
car approaching and sounded his whistle but Watkins, evidentally not hearing the 
warning, hurtled onward into the train at the 19th car. Hitting at a right angle, the 
impact was great enough to partly imbed the top of the hard top convertible in the 
steel car. The blow knocked this car and two succeeding ones from the track. Skid 
marks from the tires show that the lower portion of the car passed almost across the 
tracks before it halted.
 The car caught fire and Watkms was dragged from the blaze by trainmen Charley 
Hiller, fireman, Palmdale; E. T. Harmon, conductor, Mojave; and brakemen Henry 
L. Weldin, Bakersfield with Roger Taylor from L. A. He died 10 minutes later and 
was brought to the O'Donnell Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife. Adeline 
Jean, North Hollywood; father, Bruce J., Sr., and brother Bruce, Jr. of Wichita, 
Kan. Another brother, Bob, of Webster Grove, Mo., and his mother, Mrs. Iva 
Mayneux, New York, N.Y. The remains were shipped to Wichita on Thursday by 
O'Donnell.

27 Mar 1952
,.
. .
"'"