James M. Cummins (1932)

CUMMINS

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 2/6/2007 at 15:07:10

Winterset Madisonian-Winterset, Iowa
December 22, 1932

LORIMOR MAN KILLED AT PECOS, TEXAS

Jas. Cummins, Former Resident of Madison County, Killed While Boarding Train

James Cummins, a former resident of Madison county lost his life near Pecos, Texas, while attempting to board a moving train.

The Lorimor Journal gives the following details:

Mr. Cummins had been employed in New Mexico picking cotton and came to Pecos just two or three days before the accident accompanied by two of his friends. As no work could be found there, they decided to go go Allemore, Texas in the Rio Grande valley to obtain further work in the cotton fields. In attempting to board a train he was thrown underneath and his left limb severed about three inches below the knee.

Medical attention and ambulance service was called for by the local station agent on the Texas and Pacific R.R. and in a very short time was in Camp & Camp hospital. The accident occurred only 100 feet from the depot at approximately 12:15 p.m. and the patient passed away at 11:30 the same evening.

His relatives here were notified immediately and arrangements were made with the Grandfield ambulance and funeral service to return the body here for interment. Mr. Grandfield accompanied by his son Gerald left here Tuesday morning, December 6 returning home Sunday December 11. The distance covered by this drive was approximately 2750 miles and was made in five days. All driving was done in the day time except 170 miles after supper on two occasions. We simply mention this because we believe this is a record for the longest ambulance drive, in fact it is being written up as such in one of the national magazines of the profession.

Mr. Cummins has been a long time resident of this community having been born in Madison county, Iowa and has always made his home, since the death of his mother, with his brother, Earl, who resides just a few miles northeast of Lorimor.

The funeral service was conducted at the Grandfield funeral parlor Monday, December 12th by the Rev. Paul Williams and interment was made in the Clarke cemetery about ten miles north of Lorimor in Madison county, near the birth place of the deceased.