Two Van Buren County Men Killed By Train

RAMBO, MURPHY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 11/12/2013 at 05:38:11

Two Van Buren County Men Killed By Train
**Handwritten: 1948

Two Van Buren county men, Monte Rambo, 31, and James Udell (Pat) Murphy, were killed Monday morning when the car in which they were riding was struck by a Burlington pasenger(sp) train in Ft. Madison. The accident occurred at the 23rd street crosisng(sp) about 8:45 o'clock.

The two men, who were employed by the Sante Fe Railway, were enroute to work at the time the collision occurred. They were only a short distance from the place where they were to park their car when hit by the train.

Highway Patrolman Ivan Franklin said Engineer O.R. Pickett and Fireman G.V. Caldwell reported the auto drove onto the tracks directly in front of the oncoming train. The engineer said the train was going about 25 miles an hour with its whistle blowing and bell ringing.

The car was carried more than 700 feet down the track.

The two men had been employed by the Sante Fe for a number of years and drove back and forth to their work. They took turns driving their cars, and Rambo was driving at the time the train hit. it was reported that the electrical signal was not working at the time.

The front of the engine hit the driver's side of the car first, and Rambo was killed instantly. Murphy was taken to the hospital in Ft. Madison and died about two hours later.

The 1949 Ford, which Rambo purchased from Davidson Motor only a few weeks ago, was demolished.

Several acquaintances saw the two men leave Keosauqua to go to their work early Monday and could hardly believe the report that came over the radio a short time later saying they had been killed in the train collision.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 317, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA