Brown, George L. 1853 - 1871

BROWN

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 3/8/2004 at 20:23:35

Howard County Times September 7, 1871

On Friday evening, Sept. 1st, at St. Paul Junction, Minn., by a railroad accident, George L. Brown, son of Rev. C. E. Brown, of Lime Springs, aged 18 years.

A little after 7 o'clock last Friday evening, at St. Paul Junction, when coupling cars, in consequence of faulty coupling apparatus, the "bumpers" as they are commonly called, glanced and passed by each other and George was caught between the plat-forms of the cars, which inflicted internal inquries, resulting in death about, an hour afterward.

After he was taken from between the cars, with the assistance of the conductor he stepped up into the car that was going to Minneapolis and walked several steps and sat down, saying, " I guess I am not hurt much." After a short time they laid him down, when he lay quietly for several minutes and then raised himself upon his elbow and turned himself upon the other side, saying at the same time, "my stomach feels bad, I am afaid I am injured internally."

Soon after he went into a comatose state and passed away so quietly, those with him did not know when he breathed his last.

As soon as George was hurt a dispatch was sent to his brother Willie, then on duty as night operator at Minneapolis, that his brother was hurt and would be sent there. Willie at once procured a Physician to be in readiness, but when the train arrived his brother was dead, having died on the train near Fort Snelling.

The body was brought to the home of his parents in Lime Springs by the passenger train Saturday afternoon. The funeral services were held the next day in the Baptist Church, and attended by a large concourse of sympathizing friends, many were present from Cresco and Vicinity.

George was past 18 years of age and had been in the employ of the Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R., company most of the time for a year past, as train man. He had the entire confidence of the conductors with whom he worked and who most cheerfully bear testimony, that as a prompt, sober, careful and faithful hand he had no superior on the road.