Donahue, Ed (died 1892)

DONAHUE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/18/2011 at 16:49:28

Alton Democrat
July 30, 1892

DONAHUE’S CRUEL DEATH.
Remsen, Iowa, July 22.
One of the saddest events ever chronicled in this town was the death of Ed
Donahue last Friday, who was run over by the freight train on which he was
employed as brakeman. While switching in the yards, the train men were
about to couple the train to the caboose. Ed was on top of a box car and
when the train was about to “pump,” Ed stepped forward to set the brake, the
engineer reversed his engine. The train stopped instantly and just at the
time poor Ed was in the act of taking hold of the wheel. He was thrown from
the top of the car to the center of the track, the two first wheels passing
over his legs just below the knees mangling them in a horrible manner. He
was badly bruised about his body and head, but was not thought to be
dangerous, as he recognized many of his acquaintances and seemed to suffer
no pain.

The sad news spread like fire and in five minutes the whole town was on the
spot. Rev. Father Shulte was summoned and found poor Ed sensible of his
dangerous conditions. He was carried by willing hands from the warehouse of
Conway Bros., where he was first brought to one of the rooms of the Remsen
House, where Drs. Hunter and Hoffman together with Surgeon Ensing of LeMars,
prepared for the amputation of the shattered limbs, but his sinking
condition caused them to postpone for a while until he would rally, but he
gradually grew weaker until 4:45 p.m., when he died without the least
evidence of pain.

Almost everyone in Alton will remember Ed Donahue. He was proprietor of the
drug store there for over a year and during his residence there made friends
of all he met. There never was a better hearted fellow. Jolly, good-natured
and full of fun, he was happy in any crowd. While me met his death in a
strange town, he found some of his friends of six years ago at his side.
Even strangers vied with each other trying to do what they could for the
dying man. One young man who heard him ask to have a message sent to his
parents, ran to the depot and sent it.

Supt. Dixon at once placed a special train at Newell for the parents and
friends to reach Remsen, which they did at 4:50 p.m., just five minutes
after their only son and brother had passed away. The meeting of the father,
mother and sisters will be better imagined than described. It was heart
reading. As he waived his hat to his mother that morning as he passed the
door, telling her he would not have dinner at home that day. There are many
indeed who will drop tear and silent prayer for he that is one, for to know
him was to like him. To Phil Conway he said, “I wish Dr. Owens was here,”
showing that his thoughts were about his true friend of old. Undertaker
Nothun was in charge of the body, it was embalmed and placed in the
handsomest casket to be found. Six Pallbearers carried it to the depot to
the train, it was followed by several hundred people. The 8:50 “flyer”
stopped and took the body to Newell, from hence it was buried last Sunday.

The next day his train returned in the morning. The sad faces of the
brakemen spake more than words.