Sunley, Nathaniel L. (died 1885)

SUNLEY

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 5/17/2020 at 13:32:42

Ottumwa Daily Democrat, January 13, 1885

KILLED BY THE CARS.
A Brakeman on the C. B. & Q. Meets His Death by Falling From a Train Near Dudley, Sunday Afternoon.

Nathaniel Sunley, a brakeman on the C. B. & Q. railroad, was killed near Dudley on Sunday about noon. He was rear brakeman on No. 11 west, and it is supposed was standing on a high car in front of the caboose and was struck by the first bridge east of Dudley and knocked down between that car and the caboose and run over by the latter. His body was found some 250 feet west of the bridge, his brakeman’s badge was on top of the caboose, and it appears that after being struck by the bridge he must have remained on top of the car a short time before falling between. The frame of the bridge—an iron one is very high, and entirely above the reach of an ordinary man from an ordinary car.

A rather singular circumstance occurred after the accident. Although the unfortunate man’s badge was found as before stated, his cap could not be found. For some hours a rigid search was made about the bridge, and along the track for a long distance each way, but in vain. After the undertaker had gone up and taken care of the remains, and had been waiting an hour or more for a train to bring him to town, and about 5 o’clock in the evening, a dog went trotting by the depot from the west, with the missing cap in his mouth. It is likely the cap became entangled in the brakerod, or other machinery of the car, and was carried some distance west and then it became dislodged. Mr. Sunley had run on the road some time and was generally liked. His is about 40 years, his wife is dead, he has one son here about 10 years old, and several other children in Rock Island—all young. It is understood that he has some life insurance in the Brakeman’s Brotherhood.

Yesterday a coroner’s inquest was held over the remains, Justice Orr acting as coroner, in the absence of Dr. Sage, Conductor Erbacher, J. W. Helfer, brakeman, and Dr. T. J. Douglass being examined. The jury was composed of W. F. McCarroll, J. A. Johnson and Albert Kerr, who returned a verdict of accidental death in accordance with the facts as given above.

FUNERAL—The funeral of N. L. Sunley will take place from the Caster House, at 10 o’clock a.m. today. The friends of the deceased are invited to attend without further notice. The interment will take place at the Ottumwa cemetery. Rev. D. C. Bevan will conduct the funeral ceremonies at the Caster House.
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An uncle and a son of Nate Sunley came in from Rock Island last night, and expressed a wish to take the remains to that place for interment, but the matter was not fully decided when we last heard.
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