Iowa Old Press
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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DIED.
MAHON—In this city Sunday evening, at 9:15 o’clock. January 11th, 1885, Stephen Keith Mahon, Captain of United States Army, in the 47th year of his age.
He was born in Tyrrels pass, county of West Meath, Ireland. The family came to the United States in 1849, and to Iowa in 1854, locating at Ottumwa. Capt. Mahon enlisted in the 36th Reg’t, Iowa Vol. Inft. at its organization in 1862; was appointed sergeant major at the staff organization; commissioned adjutant in August, 1863, and served in this capacity until the muster out of the regiment at the close of the late war. He was appointed 2d Lieut. in the 11th United States Inft., Feb. 1866; promoted to 1st Lieut. July 1866, Capt. 16th Inft. July, 1882, and was placed on the retired list of the army, April, 1883. He was present with his regiment at the battle of Helena, Arkansas, and was brevetted captain in the army for gallantry in that action. He also served with the expedition under General Steele in the campaign against Camden, Arkansas, and was taken prisoner with his regiment and brigade at the battle of Marks Mills, Arkansas, while guarding a wagon train returning to Pine Bluffs, Arkansas. He was held prisoner of war at Tyler, Texas, some ten months, until near the close of hostilities, having made two unsuccessful efforts to escape. He served in the South after his appointment in the regular army, carrying out the reconstruction measures in Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and acquitted himself with credit in the many duties assigned him during that critical period, being once ordered by President Grant to Washington for personal interview on these matters.
He came home from Fort Sill, Indian Territory, on sick leave in Aug. 1879, and was a great sufferer from that time until his death, but bore his sufferings with Christian patience.
The funeral will take place at St. Mary’s Episcopal church on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock.
It was the fortune of the writer to have been intimately acquainted with the deceased, and to have enjoyed his friendship, not only among the peaceful scenes of home, but in the field, and to have shared with him some of the dangers that beset the soldier during the campaigns of three years. In all relations that he was called upon to sustain, Captain Mahon was a high-minded honorable gentleman. He loved to talk of the days that are past. The last time the writer saw him, he pleasantly referred to the Christmas dinner we enjoyed together in the pine woods of Arkansas, and although he was then near the end, yet it gave him pleasure to talk of or hear again the old stories of the camp.
The Captain was a brother of Major S. Mahon, of Mrs. Col. Kittredge and has also another sister living here. Capt. Wm. Mahon, of Cincinnati, is a brother, and will arrive here tonight.
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Owing to the non arrival of friends, the burial of Captain Mahon is postponed until tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, but the funeral services will take place at the church, this, (Tuesday) afternoon at 3 o’clock, as already announced.
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Major Mahon last night received a dispatch from his brother, Captain William Mahon of Cincinnati, that he would arrive here tonight. The funeral services of Capt. S. K. Mahon will however take place this afternoon as announced and the interment will take place tomorrow.
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Friends desiring to see the remains of Captain Mahon will have the opportunity at this brother’s residence until 2 o’clock this (Tuesday) afternoon.
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The ladies of the First M. E. church are preparing their arrangements for the celebration of Washington’s birthday. Owing to the fact that the 22d occurs on Sunday, the entertainment will be given on Saturday evening, February 21.
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The Sunday round-up of drunks and tramps resulted in three of the former and four of the latter putting in appearance in the Mayor’s court yesterday. The tramps were ordered out of town, and the drunks assessed $1 each. Two paid, and one went to the stone pile.
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MARRIED.—Three miles southeast of this city, by Rev. A. W. Archibald, January 11, 1885, Mr. Job Pollard and Miss Ella Wallace. The young couple go to housekeeping at once on Moore street in South Ottumwa.
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Deputy Sheriff Kent was out in Adams township yesterday summoning witnesses before the Grand Jury to testify in the Pleas. Anderson case.
The following were among those summoned: Moses Abernathy, James Pratt, Geo. Millard, Grant Dorsey, Frank Hardy, Thos. P. Blake, Henry Gutch, Jos. Wheeler, Cy Thompson, Geo. Fritz, Will Fritz, John Garlinhouse, Clem Springer, Erastus Hull, Caleb Cloyd, Frank Hoy, Fielding Barnes, Mrs. Fielding Barnes, Anna Anderson, daughter of Pleas. Anderson, James Giles, Frank Tinsley jr., J. W. Williams, John Day.
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Joe Jacques, the youthful son of Capt. Jacques, met with a mishap last Saturday. Joseph like all the other little fellows finds delight in taking his little sled, starting from the tiptop of Marion street and thence down to the level with a speed that closely rivals the C. B. & Q. , fast mail. It is said on this occasion as he went down, there was distinctive Joe, nor distinctive sled; it was a streak of something that appeared like a cross between boy, sled and red woolen mittens but mixed up so that one could not swear what it was. But it went too fast, or it stopped too soon;
or something took place, for poor Joe was taken home with his face badly scratched, his eyes blacked, his nose twisted and his mouth turned upside down and for two or three days there was trouble in the house. His father never did know much about surgery but had heard that sweet oil was food for such wounds and mistook a bottle of varnish for the favorite remedy of his great-grandfather; Joe, however, was polished up with the varnish until the poor youth resembled an antique piece of Japanese lacquered ware more than he did the good-looking bright little Joe that this writer thinks so much of.
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Notice of Dissolution.
Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore existing under the firm name of J. M. Gibbs & Son, doing a restaurant business in the city of Ottumwa, Iowa, is hereby dissolved by mutual consent, J. M. Gibbs, retiring. The business will hereafter be conducted by John D. Gibbs, who will pay all outstanding debts of the firm and to whom all bills due the firm are to be paid.
Ottumwa, Iowa, Jan. 12, 1885
J. M. Gibbs
J. D. Gibbs
The business of the Magnolia Restaurant will be carried on at the same place as heretofore. I shall be pleased to meet any of the old patrons of the house and as many new ones as will come, and hope to give general satisfaction. ~JOHN D. GIBBS.
[transcribed by L.Z., May 2020]