Wayne R. JAMESON

JAMESON, STARR, ELLIOTT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

22 October 1903 ---- 18 December 1921

WAYNE R. JAMESON, 18, DIES OF INJURIES IN CROSSING TRAGEDY
East High Junior and Football Star Fatally Injured When Great Western Passenger Smashes Automobile at Barclay Street at 1:10 Sunday.

SKULL FRACTURED, VICTIM LINGERS UNTIL 9:15 P.M.
Big Car Completely Shattered by Impact and Strewn Along Track - Injured Man Found in Tonneau - Boy 15, Eye Witness - Was Returning from Kindly Errand

Wayne R. Jameson, age 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Jameson, 247 Maple Street, junior in East High School and recently elected captain of the 1922 football team, died at 9:15 p.m. yesterday from injuries received at 1:10 p.m. when the automobile he was driving was struck by an incoming passenger train on the Chicago Great Western railway at the Barclay Street crossing, near the Waterloo Skirt & Garment Co. buildings.

Death resulted from a fractured skull.
Car Badly Shattered - The wreck was one of the worst crossing accidents in the history of the city, the automobile being literally torn asunder and the parts strewn along the right of way for 100 feet. The chassis was cut into three parts, the front end thrown about 40 feet from the crossing, the tonneau 50 feet further down the track, and the rear axle and wheels about 100 feet beyond the other parts. The iron was twisted and broken, while the wooden parts were reduced to kindling wood.

Young Jameson, the only occupant of the car, was within a half block of his home when the collision occurred. The train was stopped and members of the crew assisted in getting the injured youth to the hospital. It was found there was a fracture of the skull at the front of the head, but no other serious injuries seemed apparent. He remained unconscious, however, for several hours.

All during the afternoon hope filled the hearts of parents and physicians that the injuries would not prove fatal. Four X-ray pictures revealed no internal hurts or broken bones. The patient came out of the anesthetic and for a brief period seemed to be regaining consciousness, but at 6 p.m. lapsed again into unconsciousness and death became inevitable.

Boy Witnesses Tragedy - The only witness to the accident, aside from the locomotive crew, was Maynard Davis, a boy of 15, whose home at 145 South Barclay Street is just west of the railroad crossing. He was playing in his front yard and observed the enclosed car pass him at a good speed. At the same time he was horrified to see the passenger train approaching from the east at full speed.

The boy called out with all his might to the driver of the automobile and rushed to the street in an effort to stop the automobile before it reached the track. Evidently, young Jameson did not hear him, or was unable to stop the car, and concluded his best chances lay in crossing the track ahead of the train.

"I couldn't tell whether the driver saw the train or not, or whether he heard me call, as he was only a short distance from the tracks when he passed our house," said Maynard, "and he got onto the track right in front of the engine, which hit the automobile squarely in the middle. There was an awful crash and the automobile just seemed to go up in the air and fly to pieces."

Victim found in Tonneau - Neighbors, hearing the crash, rushed out to see what had happened. Someone immediately telephoned for the city ambulance, while others searched the wreckage for the occupants of the car. Wayne Jameson was found in the tonneau of the car, still on the seat, which was smashed and splintered beneath him. He was unconscious and blood flowed from a bad gash in his forehead. The injured youth was recognized by a woman, and who carried the news to the family, who were waiting the return of Wayne for dinner. Father and mother arrived on the scene in time to direct the taking of the injured boy to the Presbyterian Hospital.

Was on Errand of Kindness - It had been the custom of Wayne Jameson to take Mrs. Elizabeth (Grandma) Starr to her home at 308 Fowler Street each Sunday after services at Grace M.E. Church and he was on his way back from his kindly act when the fatal accident occurred.

The passenger train which crashed into the automobile was No. 51, southbound, due here at 1:10 p.m. and was in charge of Frank Carver, conductor. At the station it was stated the train came in on time. The engine was not damaged and the train pulled out of the city without the trainmen making a report or statement regarding the accident.

The South Barclay Street crossing is protected by an automatic alarm bell and it is claimed the bell was ringing the usual warning to the approach of the train. A few of the tracks eastward from lower Barclay Street is obscured by the big factory building of the Waterloo Skirt & Garment Co. This fact, coupled with the difficulty of hearing the approach of the train and the warning bell from an enclosed car, is given as the cause for the fatal crash. The Jameson car was a large sedan. Hundreds of people visited the scene of the wreck yesterday afternoon.

Brilliant Record as Athlete - Wayne Jameson was one of the popular athletes of east high, After a brilliant record on the football team during the past season, he was elected captain at the annual banquet last Wednesday night. He was on the honor roll for the all-star state team, having played every game and every minute of each game in which greatest characteristic was his happy disposition. He was always genial, light hearted and the life of any group of companions, all of whom were his staunch friends.

Born at Clarion, Iowa, Oct. 22, 1903, Wayne came to Waterloo with his parents when a small boy and had spent practically all of his life here. He is survived by his parents, two sisters: Mrs. Arthur Elliott, West Newton, Mass., Miss Fonda Jameson, a graduate of last year, and a brother Ralph Jameson, a sophomore in East High School.

News Saddens Church Service - Announcement of the accident by Dr. E. J. Lockwood, pastor of Grace M.E. Church, at the service last night had a depressing effect both upon the congregation and upon the choir, whose members gave a special program of Christmas music. Just a week before Wayne had taken an active part in the church program. There were many moist eyes in the congregation while the choir was singing. Dr. Lockwood had come from the hospital immediately before the evening service.

Funeral Services Thursday - Funeral services will be at Grace M.E. Church at 2 p.m. Thursday. Rev. E.J. Lockwood, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview. Mrs. Elliott, sister residing in Massachusetts, has been notified and will be here for the funeral. The family requests friends not to send flowers.

Waterloo Evening Courier --- Waterloo, Iowa
December 19, 1921