Wagstaff, Robert, 1849-1909

WAGSTAFF, LYNCH

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/26/2012 at 17:54:08

Hawarden Independent, May 27, 1909

Killed By The Cars, Fatal Accident Occurred Last Thursday Night.

Robert Wagstaff, an employee on the Northwestern gravel crew, was run over by the cars in the Northwestern yards about twelve o'clock last Thursday night. The accident occurred on the way car track at the west end of the yards. The man's jaw was broken, his neck dislocated and death was instantaneous. Yardmaster O. W. Davis had the yard crew move some of the cars a few car lengths and while this was being done he heard a brake-beam scraping and thinking it was down made an investigation and found the deceased underneath the car. A pool of blood was found where he lay and his hat was found about a car length away, indicating that he had been dragged about that distance.

Wagstaff was working with the Northwestern gravel crew under the name of James Lynch, and came here about the first of April. He was a jovial Scotchman, but like many who follow the work in which he was engaged, was given to drinking to excess. He had high family connections and it was to prevent their learning of any escapades which he might get into that he went under an assumed name. He took a lay-off the morning before his death on account of not feeling well and during the day was known to have indulged rather freely with a number of his companions. It is presumed that in attempting to get back to the boarding cars near where he was killed that he either sat down upon the track of lay down and went to sleep. His clothing showed that he had been sick as the front of his shirt was bespattered from vomiting.

His mother, Mrs. Chas. Wagstaff, resides in Chicago and is 80 years of age. The relatives were notified and his sister, Mrs. R. Thompson, arrived Sunday to take charge of the remains. The funeral services were held Monday morning from Sumner's Undertaking parlors and the remains were interred in Grace Hill cemetery in this city. A number of Masons and Eastern Stars attended the obsequies, the sister of the deceased being a prominent member of the latter order.

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From the Alton Democrat, May 29, 1909:

Robert Wagstaff who had been working with a surfacing gang on the Northwestern line was found dead in the Hawarden railroad yards last Friday night. He had apparently been standing or sitting on the tracks and was struck by moving cars--his head and face being badly crushed. He was bonr in Scotland in 1849 and has two children living there. His sister Mrs. Robert Thompson came from Chicago and identified the remains and took charge of same.