SAUNDERS, James 1855-1877

SAUNDERS

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 6/11/2009 at 07:16:00

Iowa State Reporter, Waterloo (Black Hawk Co.), Iowa, 25 July 1877.

KILLED ON THE RAILROAD.--News was received in this city Monday morning that James Saunders, a brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad, and a son of our fellow citizen Mr. A. Saunders, had been killed near Webster City. The news was startling and shocking, not only to the immediate family of the deceased, but to all who were acquainted with him. The deceased was a brakeman on conductor Yutzy's train, which came in from the west to Webster City about 8 o'clock. While doing some switching young Saunders went to uncouple some cars, and although the exact manner of his death is unknown, it is supposed his foot caught in a frog or in the guard and he was thrown down and struck by the coupling bean, breaking his neck and killing him instantly.

His remains were brought to this city Monday afternoon, and he was buried from the family residence Tuesday afternoon. The deceased was aged about twenty-two years, and had been in the employ of the railroad company for several years. He was generally esteemed by those with whom he had been so long connected, and by all who knew him here.

The bereavement is doubly severe on the family of Mr. Saunders, as James is the second son they have lost by railroad accident, the first having met his death two or three years ago while working on a road west.