WAPELLO YOUNG MAN CRUSHED UNDER TRAIN

BALLARD

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/5/2010 at 18:57:08

Remains of Clayton Ballard Found on Track.

KILLED BY M.N.& S. TRAIN

Body Discovered By George Dickey Early Saturday Morning - Body Had Been Dragged Several Blocks and Was Badly Mutilated - Right Limb Found Wedged in Trucks of Coach at Burlington

The lifeless and mangled remains of Clapton Ballard aged 21 years, were discovered lying at the side of the M.N. & S. tracks at the street crossing on the north side of the depot at an early hour Saturday morning. He was run down by the Moose special train as it passed through here about 1:30 o'clock that morning enroute from Davenport to Burlington.

The gruesome find was made by Mr. G.H. Dickey, of this place, as he was driving from his home here to a farm where he has been working. The body was literally cut to pieces. One arm and leg were completely amputated. Efforts made to locate the severed limb in the vicinity of the fatality were unsuccessful but when the Burlington office of the railway company was notified, it was learned that the missing leg had been found wedged in the trucks of one of the coaches. The missing limb was expressed back to Wapello.

The body presented a gruesome sight as fragments of flesh and clothing were strewn along the track for three blocks.

The exact manner in which the young man met his death will forever remain a mystery, though it is believed tat he was thrown under the wheels of the train as he attempted to board it. At a point on the track about midway between Pleasant and State streets there was evidence that the young man had been lying down on the grass close to the track, and when the special on the road came through he evidently tried to get on, missing his hold and being caught by the foot in the trucks of a coach, was dragged to where his body was found, when the limb was severed and the body fell beside the track.

As soon as the body was discovered Coroner Collins of Letts, was notified, and arrived about 8 o'clock. After investigating he came to the conclusion that an inquest was unnecessary and the body was turned over to J.G. Keck and taken to his undertaking parlors, where it was prepared for burial.

Ballard was last seen alive about twelve o'clock Friday night when he walked toward his rooming place in company with Jack Shaw, manager of the Shaw billiard and pool room. Mr. Shaw left him at the corner of Pleasant and Prairie streets, and this was the last seen of him until his lifeless body was found. Ballard had been about town all day and it is reported that he had been drinking.

Young Ballard came to Wapello this spring in company with Ed. Hicks from Dixon, Tenn. The two young men have been employed in and about the city at various occupations, the latter now being employed in the M.F. Archibald restaurant. Ballard was a painter by trade and had been working for Chas. Johnson. He also played shortstop for a time this season with the Wapello baseball team.

Clayton Ballard was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Ballard, of Dixon, tenn., and was twenty-one years of age. Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers and a married sister.

The young man's parents were notified of his death and they sent word to bury the body here.

Source: LCHS scrapbook; newspaper clipping with handwritten date of June 17, 1916