The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-23

ing badly cut in pieces. The train was stopped
as quickly as possible but not until his body,
which caught upon break attached to one of
the cars, had been carried about ten rods when
it was removed by Conductor Hobbs and his
men and word brought at once here. We could
not at first credit the terrible story, but when
hastily repairing to Milan, Ia train taking
few friends up to care for the reEains) and
viewing the sad spectacle, all hopes were gone,
and we gazed only upon the the lifeless body of
him who only a few hours before had left us
full of health and strength. He was taken at
once here, where. the news having spread,
largo number were in waiting only to be told
by those in charge that he could not be seen
until properly cared for. A selected number
from the Masons and Odd Fellows, of both
which orders he was prominent member, at
once took him in charge, and everything posi-.
BILE was done to give him natural look, and
with good success. An inquest is to be held
tomorrow, and the funeral will take place on
Tuesday. the Masons and Odd Fellows taking
the charge.
Mr.. Willis was we'll and favorably known
throughout all this vicinity, and his death,
especially in this sudden and terrible manner,
brings unusual grief to the hearts of all, more
especially to his family, to whom he was bound
by the teDderest ties of affection. His wife is
q most estm. BILE woman, having a large num-
Der OF relatives here among our most respected
citizens, and his children, seven in number, two
of whom are married, we're ever the recipients
OF his constant and loving care. He served
faithfully in the army during nearly all the re-
cent rebellion, first in the 18th New Hampshire
Infantry. where he was promoted to a lieutan-
act, and afterwards in the 9TH Name Light Bat
Earv in which he eorvad durip0 tho vv hola sar-
vice of that organization as LIST line sergeant,
and in which he was general favorite, loved
and respected by ALL and when his comrades
shall hear how, after Drawing the perils of war
he has met q more terrible death by such sad
accident as this, and when they remember that
Sergeant Mcclellan, of the same battery and
rank with him also met his death upon the
railroad, as suddenly and terribly, it must re-
mind them that Gods providence Is truly won
derful, and His ways past finding out. Since
his return from the service he has nearly all the
time held the Office of deputy sheriff in and for
our county of Coos, and no man ever perform
ed the peculiar and often difficult duties of that
office more acceptably than has he. Prompt
aud fearless in tho execution of his work, he
scarce ever failed in what he undertook, and the
remark has often been made by those who had
broken the laws that they had rather any man
would get after them than Sheriff Willis. He
has long been member of the N. e. Socl- ty,
being one of the very first to enroll himself
too, as we'll as all other organizations to which
he belonged, will long miss his good advice and
his,presence. he was also member af Merri-
mack Relief Association of Odd Fellows. Per-
sonaily his loss to us is most severe. he was
our almost constant companion in the camp
and on the field, and has since been even more
intimately connected in his official duties, oul
office was his second home, and his coming nc
more will darken our own pathway along life's
journey.
To prove the truth of the adage that trouble
never comes singly, the news of Mr.. Willis
death was hardly begun to be realized when the
telegraph brought Us the news of an,ther of
our citizens, Mr.. L. Woodbury. Jackman, having
met his death near Oxford station. on the
Grand Trunk, by falling from his train, on
which he was employed as brakeman, and be.
ing like Mr.. Willis terribly cut in pieces. He
is brother to him, who, as noticed in your dis
patches only few days SINCE was injured neal
Groveton, BY his head coming in contact with g
bridge, and who now lies in critical condition
at bis fathers in our village, thus bringing
double affection to another of our most respect
ed families. Mr. Jackman leaves wife and
two small children to mourn his sad death, hls
wife being on the train with him at the time
and made nearly crazy on learning the terrible
truth. He has lived In Portland for year Of
two, having to run between here and there, bu
his home and friends are here. as also those Of
his wife, and he will probably be brought he1e
for interment. HAL,