Decatur County Journal

December 6, l906

C.S. COFFIN, formerly of this city, was killed near Cottonwood, Utah,

Sunday, November 24th, while serving as brakeman on the Rio Grande

Western. He had for some time been employed on the Oregon Short Line

but just a short time before his death, had entered the employ of the

above road as freight brakeman, running from Salt Lake City south.

On the day of the accident, he was standing on the top of a box car at

(can't read) in the morning as his train was nearing the town of

Cottonwood when he was struck by the upper part of a covered bridge and

thrown from the train. The Rio Grande Western was formerly a narrow

gauge road and had recently been changed to a standard gauge and the

rolling stock accordingly increased in size. The bridge, however, had

not been changed in any way with the exception of the rails, and the

large box car on which MR. COFFIN was standing did not leave sufficient

space above to clear the brakeman's head.

MR. COFFIN was terribly injured, the back of his skull being crushed and

his right leg and arm being broken. He was hurried to Salt Lake City, a

distance of l25 miles, where he was placed in St. Mary's Hospital.

Everything within the attending physician's skill was done, but death

resulted that evening.

His sister, MRS. OLIVE RADCLIFFE, of Wathena, Kan., had been notified of

the accident and she had in turn telephoned to her brother, ED COFFIN,

at Council Bluffs, and notified her brothers, CHARLES and VIN, of Leon.

MRS. RADCLIFFE, accompanied by her husband, hurried to Council Bluffs

where with ED COFFIN they awaited further news, ED COFFIN had notified

their brother, W.W. COFFIN, who is (can't read) master for the Union

Pacific at Evanston, Wyoming, and he started immediately for Salt Lake

City, a distance of l35 miles. He arrived there Monday and started for

Leon with the body at 8 o'clock Tuesday evening, arriving here Friday

afternoon at 2:4l p.m.

The funeral was held at the Christian Church, Saturday afternoon, Rev.

J.L. boyd, Pastor of the M.E. Church, conducting the services. He was

born in Leon, September l9, l870, being a son of MR. and MRS. JAS.

COFFIN, both of whom have passed away. He was the second son of that

family to meet his death while railroading. GEORGE COFFIN being injured

at Afton on the main line of the Burlington, Septemer l6, l882, and

death resulting at Creston, where he was taken for medical attention.

ED COFFIN also lost a foot in the railroad service.

CYRUS studied telegraphy in his youth and was for several years, station

agent at the old D.M. & K.C. Station at the foot of west Commercial

Street in this City. He was a popular and worthy young man who made

friends readily. He carried a life insurance policy for $l,350 in the

B. of R.T. in favor of his sister, MRS. OLIVE RADCLIFFE, of Wathena,

Kansas.

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September 23, 200l