Obadiah Sebastian (ca. 1862-1877}

SEBASTIAN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From the Ames Intelligencer, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Friday, June 29, 1877.

Killed By the Cars.

Friday afternoon last, Obadiah Sebastian, a deaf mute, 15 years of age, a son of Geo. W. Sebastian, of Nevada township, was killed by the eastward bound passenger train near Indian Creek bridge. The boy had been at Council Bluffs attending school, and was journeying homeward toe njoy the summer's vacation. At the Bluffs he had been placed in charge of the conductor of the train, with whom he came as far as Boone on Thursday. here the train was abandoned. Friday morning the las became restless over the delay in getting home and started on afoot. Had he progressed another mile on his journey he would have reached his friends in safety. The train from Boone on Friday was "pushed" down to the bridge in order to facilitate the transfer to be made there, and lighten the work of the portage. Within a mile of this break it overtook the boy, who had stepped from inside the rails just as the corner of the baggage car struck him. It knocked him off the track, but the section of the train and his bracing up against the fall brought him back under the wheels. His head was literally scalped, and the top of it badly crushed. Death must have been instantaneous. Burial rites over his remains were held the day following.- Saturday.