DOUD, Edward

DOUD

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 4/16/2016 at 20:39:12

FELL FROM A TRAIN

Edward Doud, a Brakeman on the Rock Island Road, Falls from the Cars at Altoona and Is Killed.

A brakeman on the Rock Island road between Keokuk and Des Moines was killed Saturday night. He is a son of Hon. Eliab Doud, of Van Buren county, the author of the railroad bill known as the Doud Amendment. The Des Moines Leader published the following account of the fatal accident:

When train No. 51, from Keokuk to Des Moines, Conductor Dowell in charge pulled into the east Rock Island yards, in this city, last evening at 10 o'clock, the head brakeman, Edward Doud, could not be found. Conductor Dowell remembered that before leaving Altoona some switching had been done, and supposed Doud had been negligent in boarding the train and had been left behind. However, he could not but feel uneasy about his brakeman, and at once instituted inquiries by telegraph with the agent at Altoona, when his worst apprehensions were realized, the operator stating in reply that a few minutes after the train had left, Conductor Wolverton, of east bound freight No. 16, which had just pulled into the station, had found Doud lying on the track in an unconscious state, his left leg and arm being frightfully crushed and almost severed from his body. Conductor Wolverton and his brakeman carried the unfortunate man into the station house and telegraphed for Dr. Hanawalt found two local physicians in attendance, and following a consultation the brakeman was conveyed to a hotel, where a thorough examination of his injuries were made. The decision arrived at his not known, but it is evident from the nature of his injuries that they are very serious and much more liable to result fatally than otherwise. He was left in charge of Dr. Stoner, of Altoona, who cheerfully did everything possible to alleviate his excruciating pain and calm his troubled mind. He was observed to fall from the train by the crew of NO. 16, which, at the time, was pulling into Altoona and, passing No. 51, running in the opposite direction. He had climbed to the top of a car and was in the act of passing forward when he lost his footing and fell between. In striking the track only a portion of his body, his left leg and arm, remained inside the rail, and these two limbs were terribly mangled. The victim of this accident is a young man twenty-two years of age, a resident of doud, a small station east of Eldon on the Keokuk line of the Rock Island, and has been in the employ of the railway about six weeks. His parents were notified of the accident and will probably arrive at Altoona on the west-bound Keokuk train at 2:30 this morning.

Later - At 12 o'clock news was received in this city that Brakeman Doud had died from the effects of the injuries received. His parents were en route to Altoona, and arrived on the west-bound Keokuk passenger train. The remains will be taken to Douds for burial.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book F, Page 279, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA