LETTS MAN KILLED BY ROCK ISLAND TRAIN

WESTPHAL

Posted By: Judy Kelley (volunteer) (email)
Date: 6/20/2012 at 18:37:24

Andrew Westphal Met Death Early Sunday Morning

BODY WAS BADLY MANGLED

Body Was Discovered Lying Along the Track East of Letts Where It is Thought Westphal Had Gone to Catch a Freight Train.

Andrew Westphal, aged 31, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Westphal, residing on a farm one-half mile southwest of Letts, was killed early Sunday morning by a Rock Island train.

His body was dicovered lying along the track at a point near the overhead bridge, three miles east of Letts, in what is known as Whiskey Hollow. It is presumed that Westphal had gone to this point to catch a freight train for Columbus Junction, as the trains customarily slow up there. A freight crew discovered the body about 4 o'clock Sunday morning, and it is presumed that is was a Barnum & Bailey circus train that struck Westphal and killed him. So far as could be learned no one saw the accident, it is likely that the exact manner of his death will never be known.

The body was badly mangled when found, the head being crushed, one foot cut off and an arm broken. The train crew which discovered it reported the discovery to Section Foreman Bailey, who immediately went to the scene of the accident and took the body to the undertaking parlors of J.B. Collins in Letts. Later the remains were removed to the hall of a lodge of which Westphal was a member.

Coroner Wagner, of Grandview, was notified of the accident and prepared for the holding of the inquest.

Westphal was a button cutter and was employed at a button factory in that city. He is survived by his parents and by two sisters, Misses Daisy and Lillian, residing at home.

The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Methodist Episcopal church conducted by Rev. L. F. Barker, pastor of the church.

Source: LCHS scrapbook. No date nor newspaper identification was mentioned.