HOLMES, Glenn: Died 1899

HOLMES

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/22/2013 at 11:30:21

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. 31 Aug. 1899
A SAD ACCIDENT.
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A Boy Killed While Returning Home On the Fair Excursion Train Friday Evening.

A sad and fatal accident occured two miles west of Bentonsport Friday evening last. As the fair excursion train was on the way to Farmington three boys, Glenn Holmes, his cousin and another boy, were riding on the platform between the first coach and the tender, there being no baggage car on the train. Just before coming to the Copperas creek bridge two miles of Bentonsport, young Holmes leaned our from the platform steps to look back, and was caught by one of the beams of the bridge. He was swept from the platform and the train passed on to Bentonsport before it was known what had happened.

A handcar was then procured and Mr. Anthony Shreckengost, the brakeman, Mr. John Vogt, a Constitution Democrat reporter, Mr. Alfred Luke and Mr. Bert Hall went back to the scene of the accident. The unfortunate boy was found hanging head downward from a beam of the bridge, over a pool of water 25 feet below. He was still alive, but his skull was badly crushed. Death ensued at 7:06 p.m., about an hour after he was found. At 9:10 the body arrived at Bentonsport, where in the absence of the coroner, Mr. N.G. Brown held an inquest, which rendered a verdict of accident death as above narrated.

Glenn Holmes was the son of John and Mary Holmes of Harrisburg township. He was 16 years old, an only son, and a dutiful, manly promising boy. His death must be a heavy blow to his parents and friends. The funeral was herld(sp) from his late home at 2 o'clock Sunday.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 194, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA