Chas. Lafayette (D. 1901)

LAFAYETTE, PENDERS

Posted By: Anonymous volunteer
Date: 6/18/2022 at 21:30:22

UNDER THE WHEELS
Meets Death in Attempting to Board Moving Train
Chas. Lafayette, a colored boy, aged about 15 years, met death by accident Sunday afternoon about five o'clock on the Iowa Central grade north of Skunk river bridge on the big fill. Lafayette was attempting to board a south bound Iowa Central train pulled by engine 50 with R. T. Penders engineer. The trains run very slowly across the river bridge and it is a common habit for people who walk to the river or to the grading north thereof to catch the trains back to the city four miles distance. Lafayette made a misstep or slipped and went beneath the moving cars. Before he could recover himself the wheels had caught the right leg and mashed it below the knee and broke it above. There was also a bad wound in the head and on the left shoulder and the right arm broken. The wounded lad was picked up and brought to this city where medical attention was immediately secured for him. The injuries were fatal, however, and the boy died about 6:30 o'clock. When it as seen that some one had been hurt the train was stopped and the lad picked up and brought to this city. He was taken to this home on the old "Byer's farm" west of the city and he died about twenty minutes after reaching there. The boy was a son of Edward Lafayette. The funeral was held at the A. M.E. church at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday and interment made in Forest cemetery. (The Oskaloosa Herald, June 20, 1901, p. 6)