John Gates

GATES, SWOPE

Posted By: John Evan Davis (email)
Date: 2/15/2015 at 22:34:07

Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, November 16, 1912
JOHN GATES IS KILLED BY TRAIN
PACKING H0USE MAN THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY EXTRA FREIGHT TRAIN.
NOTICED BY ENGINEER
John Fitzpatrick of Burlington Saw Lifeless Form Laying Near Track—Found By the Yard Crew.
John Gates, a truck farmer who has been residing on the Andrew Herman farm, east of the city for the past year, met death this morning about 6 o'clock by a Burlington freight train, while on his way to work at the John Morrell Co., packing plant. Mr. Gates left home this morning a little earlier than usual, stating that he wanted to see a man before going to work at 7 o'clock. From marks on Gates' body it is evident that he attempted to get off the track, but the pilot beam on the engine struck him before he was able to clear his way. Gates' head was badly smashed and his left leg was broken. No other injuries were found on the body. Mr. Gates is survived by his wife, two sons Will and Emery, and one daughter Miss Clara. Also two brothers J. W., and W. S. Gates, and two sisters Mrs. Rosie Swope and Mrs. Lillian Swope, all of this city. The deceased was 38 years of age and has lived in Wapello County for about twenty years. The funeral services will be announced later. The engine crew on Burlington No. 10, which left the Union depot at 7:15, is thought to have been the first to notice the lifeless body of Mr. Gates. John Fitzpatrick of Burlington, who was engineer of No. 10 dropped a note at Agency, telling them that he noticed the body of a man lying between the north and south tracks east of Ottumwa. The agent at Agency immediately notified the Ottumwa yard office, which in turn notified Coroner Slaught. The north side switching crew started out in search of the body. The crew discovered the man's body in Riverview, just east of the Rock Island underground crossing. The remains were picked up and brought to Vine Street and later removed to the Sullivan undertaking establishment, where an inquest will be held late this afternoon or evening.