GILBERT, Fred S. 1990-1901

GILBERT, OSBORNE, MARKHAM, WILLIAMS, BROWN, REBELL, SCHNEIDER

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 1/21/2013 at 05:45:34

Fred S. Gilbert January 2, 1880 - February 20, 1901

[Waterloo Semi Weekly Courier, Friday, February 22, 1901, Waterloo, Iowa]

Fred S. Gilbert, a brakeman on the Illinois Central living at 137 Sumner street, was run over by his own train at Dyersville last night and died shortly after from his injuries.

The accident occurred at about 7:15 o'clock while his train was moving out of Dyersville at the east end of the switch yards. How it happened is not known as no one witnessed the act. The supposition held by the trainmen is that he lost his footing while attempting to board the train and fell between the cars. Both legs were cut off above the knees and an arm broken. The body was mutilated so that he was identified with difficulty. He was found shortly after the train left the station by the crew of the train No. 82, which had just come in before Gilbert's train left, and placed on a stretcher and carried to the railroad surgeon's office still living. He died at 10 o'clock, three hours after the accident, remaining unconscious all the time.

As soon as the news reached Waterloo his family was notified and a special consisting of an engine and caboose in charge of Conductor Haven carried the father, mother, and sister to the scene of the accident. The special left the station here at 9:35, arriving at Dyersville at 11:45, too late for the family to see their son and brother before death. The fact that it was Gilbert who was killed was not discovered for some time after the accident, on account of the multilation and disfiguration of the body. For this reason, the special was late in going out. The account of the accident as it came in over the wires at the Central office last night was that the last seen of Gilbert was when he and Conductor Williers were looking over their train whild waiting to pass train No. 82. As the incoming train moved in Gilbert walked up toward the engine. When his train started and in attempting to get on the car it is supposed he slipped and fell between the cars. Conductor Pat Joyce found him shortly after No. 52 had left Dyersville near the east passing track switch. He immediately called the other members of the train crew and Gilbert was carried up to the company's surgeon's office. Both legs were cut off above the knees and an arm broken. He was so disfigured that he could not be identified until Conductor Williers missed him after leaving Dyersville and reported the fact to headquarters. The news was then telegraphed to the officials at Waterloo coming at 8:30 o'clock, and hour and fifteen minutes after the accident occurred.

A decided gloom pervaded the dispatcher's office last night after the news came in. This is the third fatal accident that has happened on the division this winter and the officials bitterly deplore the fact. Gilbert was known as a good, reliable trainman by his superiors and had been in the employ of the road as brakeman for about a year and a half. He had lived here all his life, his father being C.A. Gilbert, a conductor. Gilbert was popular amoung his associates and had a host of friends among the young people of this city to whom the news will come as a shock. He was 23 years old and was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. Gilbert was a large, healthy young man of an athletic build about six feet tall, and took a great interest in athletic sports.

The body arrived from Dyersville this morning at 11:15 o'clock on No. 53. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon.

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From his father's obit:
Fred was the son of Charles A. and Clara Osborn Gilbert.
He had one sister, Mrs. Frank (Stella) Markham.
Aunts on his father's side: Mrs. Ira Williams, of Martinsville, Mo., Mrs. Mary Brown of Cedar Palls, and Mrs. Alma Rebell, of Waterloo.

[Waterloo Daily Reporter, October 5, 1905]
Clara Gilbert married John Peter Schneider of Osage and they moved to Osage.