Mr. William McLaren died 1870

MCLAREN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 4/21/2016 at 23:35:02

Dubuque Daily Herald – Jan. 6, 1870 Page 4

Fatal Accident
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An Old Resident of Dubuque
Found Dead Upon the Railroad
Track Last Night
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Mr. William McLaren, an old settler, a Scotchman by birth, a gentleman by education and a warm-hearted whole souled man, met with his death under the most sudden and heart-rendering circumstances. Yesterday afternoon, about 4 o’clock, he left his home at the head of Julien Avenue and proceeded downtown, stopping into Kennedy’s saloon under the Lorimer house, on Bluff Street where he was shaved. About 6 o’clock in the evening and immediately after the passage of the freight train from the east, he was discovered by the watchman, P. McMahon, on the track about half way between the small bridge and the foot of 6th Street, lying upon his face, the train most probably struck him in passing.

We may state that the watchman’s duty is to follow each train and not proceed it, in order to extinguish the sparks of fire which might accidentally fall from the locomotive and perchance set fire to the timbers. Mr. McMahon on making the discovery informed Mr. Massey, who immediately acquainted coroner Cantillen, whereupon the remains were conveyed to the residence of the deceased, where an inquest will be held at nine o’clock this morning.

The scenes witnessed upon entering the house was harrowing in the extreme. His family hathed in grief were walking to and fro, utterly incapable of comfort while near relatives and sincere friends were sympathizing with them at the loss they had so shockingly sustained.

Not many wounds were visible, a contusion under the right eye; the evidence of a blow behind the left ear, a small wound in the neck and one on the left side, was all that could be seen, although upon feeling the left side it was easy to discover that the ribs were literally smashed in.

Mr. McLaren was a carpenter by trade, upwards of 60 years of age, well known as a man of high honor and unblemished character and highly respected by all who knew him.

We have ascertained that his business in that section of the city was the purchasing of some lumber for use in a contract which he had just accepted.