George Herbert McKay (1886-1904)

MCKAY

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 6/13/2023 at 20:08:06

From Ames Intelligencer, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, November 24th, 1904.

A Sad Accident

Further particulars in regard to the death of W. P. Howard and Geo. McKay have been received by relatives in Ames. In our last issue it was stated that the two boys had met an awful death in a wreck at Canon City, Colorado but particulars were lacking. Additional information gives a more detailed account of how they came to their death. After leaving Ames they had worked their way west and finding profitable and agreeable work on a fruit farm at Grand Junction, Colorado, remained there for three weeks. A postal card dated at that place Nov. 14 stated that they would leave the following day for Fort Worth, Texas and to address their next mail to that city. They gained the permission of the fruit shipper to be allowed to go in a refrigerator car which was loaded with celery, its destination being Fort Worth. This particular car was next to the engine and when the wreck occurred the end of the car was mashed in and immediately caught fire. It was necessary to haul this car to the nearest station in order to open it. When that was accomplished Howard and McKay were found in the ice box where they had met death by suffocation. When the bodies were given over to the charge of the undertaker they were partly frozen. The remains arrived here on number eight, Saturday night, and interment took place Sunday

George Herbert McKay

Aged 18 years, 2 months and 25 days, son of George and Irene McKay was born at Rockford, Ontario Canada, August 20th, 1886. At the age of three years he came to Iowa with parents and two older brothers. His school days were all spent in Ames and he graduated from high school in his sixteenth year. After spending one year in college he desired to travel around a few years through different parts of the country before settling down to weary college work. He spent three months with his brother in New York City, both working for the same firm, and then he wanted to see something of the west, so left N.Y. City for home by way of St. Louis. After visiting with home folks a few weeks he left for Colorado. He enjoyed the scenery and climate of that delightful state and his work was pleasant and remunerative on the large fruit farms of western Colorado, but while crossing the mountains his train was wrecked and his sweet brave young soul went forth to the Maker.

Amid the wild, grand, beautiful mountains he went to sleep, never to waken. In life, he loved the beautiful woods, the streams and the wildness of nature had great charm for him.

He was kind and gentle in the home and with his companions and was a dutiful son. He keenly enjoyed all outdoor sports and took special pains to build up a strong vigorous frame.

His death leaves a vacancy that can never be filled, and although is bright, young life is ended, he will never be forgotten. He is not dead, the child of our affection, but gone onto that school where he no longer needs our poor protection, but Christ himself doth rule.

May God bless the kind friends who tried to help us bear our sorrow.
HIS LOVING PARENTS