What began as a hopeful trip to be married ended in tragedy for a young Georgia couple and their companions in November 1909.
James Shepard and Helene Mattox, both under the age of 20, traveled from Coleman to Cuthbert with plans to marry. Accompanying them were James’s brother, Horace Shepard, and Helene’s sister, Mary Mattox. The group hired an automobile from Gerst’s garage in Fort Gaines, with chauffeur Curtis Williams driving them to Cuthbert.
Their plans quickly fell apart after they arrived. The minister they approached refused to perform the marriage because of the couple’s young age. With the wedding abandoned, the five started the return journey.
They never made it home.
About two miles west of Cuthbert, Williams reportedly attempted to light a cigarette while driving across a bridge approximately 30 feet above the tracks of the Central Railway. He lost control of the automobile, and the vehicle plunged from the bridge to the railroad tracks below.
Williams suffered a broken neck and died instantly. James and Horace Shepard were both severely injured and died within minutes of the crash.
Helene and Mary Mattox survived the initial impact but were described as terribly injured. They were carried to a nearby farmhouse for care, while the bodies of the three men were transported back to Cuthbert on a railroad handcar.
Three Dead in Bridal Party
CUTHBERT, Georgia. — Three persons are dead and two probably fatally injured as a result of an automobile accident two miles west of this place last night as a wedding party was returning from Cuthbert to Coleman.
With the purpose of being married, James Shepard and Miss Helene Mattox, accompanied by Horace Shepard, a brother of the groom, and Miss Mary Mattox, a sister of the bride-to-be, secured an automobile from Gerst’s garage at Fort Gaines and were driven to Cuthbert by Curtis Williams.
Upon reaching this point, the minister refused to marry the couple on account of their youth, neither of them yet having passed their twentieth birthday.
Plunged Over High Bridge
The party hastily left town, and while attempting to light a cigarette, Chauffeur Williams lost control of the machine crossing a 30-foot bridge over the Central Railway and it was dashed to the railroad tracks below.
Chauffeur Williams’ neck was broken and death resulted instantly.
The two Shepards were frightfully injured and died in a few minutes.
Miss Mary Mattox and Miss Helene Mattox were both terribly injured. They were removed to a neighboring farmhouse and the bodies of the three men were brought here on a handcar.
Source: Evening Star. Washington, D.C. November 22, 1909.
