Carlson Child Killed by the Cars

CARLSON

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 9/15/2019 at 05:13:30

Carlson, Son of Fred
Child Killed by the Cars – The Colfax Clipper gives particulars of a horrible accident on the Iowa Northern Railroad, between Colfax and the Coal Mines, last Friday evening. W. L. West, book-keeper for the Coal company, on his return home, riding his railway tricycle, and just south of the Old Star Mine, saw something lying on the rack, and coming up to within fifteen feet he saw it was the body of a child. Further investigation showed it to be cut in twain just above the hips. He summoned aid from the cottage of a miner nearby and as they raised the little form from the rail its life went out in one faint gasp.
At this moment the 10-year-old daughter of Fred Carlson (a teamster employed at the Valeria mine) came along looking for her 4-years-old brother, and immediately recognized the remains as his. Amin the shrieks and wails of his almost demented sister, they bore the lifeless, severed body to the nearest cottage left it there – not daring to take it to its home at once, because of the delicate condition of the mother.
The little fellow had been observed playing, near the place where the body was found, all the afternoon, and it is supposed had become tired and lain down on the track to sleep with his head inside the rails. Neither the trainmen nor any one on the train knew of the accident until on their return trip at 6:30 when they were told of it.
Source: Newton (IA) Journal; Wednesday, April 24, 1889