Borgers, Everett 1885-1918

BORGERS, MULDER, VANBEEK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/22/2012 at 11:33:35

From the Alton Democrat of Feb 9, 1918
Demented man killed by Train.
Stepping directly in front of the morning passenger train Sunday which was running a a speed of 40 or 50 miles an hour, Everett Borgers of Harris, aged 32 years, was instantly killed. His skull was crushed, both ankles broken...etc.
The young man was about 2 1/2 miles this side of Hospers, walking toward that town. It was 7:45 in the morning when the train came along and the engineer say Borgers when about a mile away from him. He blew the whistle and thought Borgers was a farmer and would step out of the track onto the grade crossing near him, but Borgers, instead of getting clear off the track stepped off with only one foot and then stepped back into the track facing the train with both fists raised towards it. J. Barber, the engineer, put on the emergency brakes but could not check the speed of the train enough to save Borgers. The body was brought to Alton where he had relatives.
Borgers was farming for himself near Harris. His mother formerly lived here in Alton. His father died after two weeks in this country and this mother later married Art Mulder.
Young Borgen's sister who is 23 years old has been going blind since childhood and they were very slosely attached to each other, until lately she was taken insane and had to be removed to Cherokee. This seemed to affect the brother and he has talked peculiarly since except when talking over farm or business matters when he was perfectly rational.
Last Friday he induced a friend to go with him to Cherokee but they missed the Illinois Central train at Sheldon and then came down to Alton where they spent Saturday. During the day Borgers tried to get a livery team with which to drive to Cherokee but was not successful. At night he told his friend, Fred Rass to go the the Mulder home and he would go to another relatives. After this no more was known of him until the tragedy. In this pockets he had over $2300 in cash and checks, mostly the latter.
Coroner Meyers was here from Hawarden Monday morning and enpaneled a jury consisting of M. D. Gibbs, E. J. Koorman and Mr. Christy. They arrived at the verdict that the deceased was killed by a trian while walking on the track in a demented condition.
The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o;clock, burial taking place at Nassau township cemetery. The young man leaved to mourn his mother, Mrs. Art Mudler, of Harris, Brothers, John, Raymond, Arthur, Will, Herman and Gerrit Borgers, sisters, Mrs. W. D. Mills of Sanborn, Mrs. Gerrit Brouwer of Plessis, Berandene Borgers of Cherokee.