May King (ca. 1897-1905)

KING

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/11/2012 at 17:16:16

From Story County Watchman July 21, 1905

KILLED.--The fast mail train of Monday morning bound west at ten o'clock while passing through through this station on the North-Western Railway met with another fatal accident on the Linn street crossing it being the killing of the little girl of Owen King, May King, who lives just north of the track. It seems that she was coming down the street expecting to cross the railway at this point with a brother who was drawing a small wagon and preceding a few feet when it happened. A long freight was standing upon the track thus obscuring the view of the approaching train from their veiw, and they started to pass just in time to meet the fast mail at the point. The boy succeeded in crossing by a close pull, but the girl, who was about eight years, was not so fortunate, and was caught by the fast flying train in such a way that the head was severed from the body and the body otherwise badly mutilated, being carried forward some distance west to the horror of all who were near enough to note the catastrophe. The train was running fast, the speed being variously estimated from fifty to seventy miles an hour, the train was running near two miles before it could be stopped and returned to the scene of destruction. A coroners' jury consisting of G. W. Dyer, I. L. Smith, and F. G. Dunnahugh was impanneled and took cognizance of the facts of the case and returned their verdict in effect: May King was accidentally killed July 17, 1908 at about 9:50 a. m. The remains were taken to the undertaking rooms of Morrissey & Layland where they were cared for in a good a shape as possible and arranged for the last rites which came off Tuesday afternoon at the tent meeting under charge of Rev. R. E. Roff.