Richard S. "Dick" Jones, died 1899

JONES

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/29/2013 at 00:09:59

Jones
Friday morning the body of Dick Jones was found near the railroad track about two miles south of town, considerably bruised and mangled, the man having been struck by the south bound passenger the night before and killed instantly. A coroner’s inquest was held over the body Saturday and a verdict returned in accordance with the above statement. He was evidently in an intoxicated condition and did not know enough to get off the track when the alarm was given. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon, Rev. Brown officiating, and the body buried in Oak Hill cemetery. Deceased was from Missouri and was in the employ of Contractor Campbell, on the M. & St.L. grade south of town. His wife and her father are here, both working at the same place. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, November 2, 1899)

Killed on the Track
Richard S. Jones, Foreman in Campbell’s Crew, Met Death by Locomotive After a Protracted Spree – Death Was Probably Instant
Richard S. Jones, who was a foreman of grade work with Campbell’s crew south of town, met a shocking death on the B.C.R. & N. tracks about three miles south while returning to camp last Thursday [Oct9ober 26, 1899] night. He had quit work several days before and come to town, where he began drinking heavily and continued the spree up to the time of his death. When he came to town he brought a considerable sum of money with him which he intended to send to his children who are at school in Missouri. He was warned by his friends who knew his failing and advised to allow someone else to attend to the business for him and to remain away from town but he insisted, with the fatal result. He remained in town drinking until the money was more than half squandered. Mr. Campbell and others of his fellow-workmen repeatedly came to town during the time and besought him to quit drinking and return to work. Finally on Thursday he promised to return to camp that evening but would not go with Mr. Campbell in the afternoon. He was last seen alive in town about five o’clock. It is supposed he started soon after that time to return to camp and was overtaken and run down by the 6:10 passenger.

Section men going south Friday morning discovered the body beside the track. They immediately notified the authorities and the railway officials and the switching crew with the coroner and assistants went down to bring in the body. Coroner Myrick empaneled a jury consisting of E.E. Dodgson, Ethan Dawson and Chas. Hunt, who, after thoroughly examining the body and hearting the testimony that could be had, found that the deceased had come to his death by being accidentally struck by a locomotive and that death was probably instant. The examination of the body showed that the victim’s back had been broken and that the body was otherwise bruised and lacerated. The coroner is of the opinion that the man was walking in the middle of the track and that the draw bar in the pilot struck him squarely in the small of the back. The body was thrown some distance from the place where it was struck and alighted face downward.

The remains were interred in the West Side cemetery Saturday. The deceased leaves a wife and two children husbandless and fatherless. Mrs. Jones was with him here but the children are attending a Catholic school in Missouri. He is described as a man of good qualities aside from the one unfortunate habit of excessive drink and a workman who was thoroughly acquainted with the details of his line of work. (Weekly Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, November 2, 1899)