Rice, James c1876 - 1899

RICE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 10, 1899 P 2 C 3

KILLED BY THE CARS.
James Rice, of Mason City, a Milwaukee Brakeman, meets Death at Castalia, Tuesday Morning.
While a C., M. & St. Paul freight train was switching at Castalia, Tuesday morning about four o’clock, James Rice, of Mason City, one of the brakemen, was run into by the train and probably killed instantly. When he was picked up he was dead, and an examination disclosed that his neck was broken, shoulder badly crushed, and there were two bruises on his head and one on the abdomen.
The remains were brought to Calmar and Coroner Gibson summoned. Upon arriving there he impaneled a jury, examined the remains and took the testimony of such witnesses as were present. The principal one of these was a brakeman named Hall. He said he thought Rice had gone to the stock yards to close a switch to leave the track clear for the early morning passenger, which was due in a short time. He (Hall) was riding on the freight when some one beside the track called for the train to stop, that a man had been struck. When they went back Rice was found on the track, indicating that he had been struck by the passenger train.
In the absence of the engineer and fireman of the train the inquest was adjourned until such time as they could be secured.
Rice was a young man about twenty-three years old, and the profusion of floral offerings which adorned the casket as it rested in the freight house at Calmar before being shipped to Mason City gave evidence of his being held in high esteem by his associates and acquaintances.