The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-14
Death 81 Frank Aaxen.

We copy the following notice of tho
death of Frank Hazen, son of our for.
mer townsman, VIM. p. Hazen, Esq,
from the Danville Qll.) Weekly News
of the Sth inst. We would be pleased
to copy the entire article of the News,
but for the fact that at the late hour at
which 1t was received our columns
were already too much occupied to
permit it:
Mr.. Frank Hazen, the engineer of
the Chicago & Eastern Illinois rail-
road who was 80 severely burned and
bruised in the wreck on that road on
the 3Oth ult., at Kensington, thirteen
miles south of Chicago, died ut his
home In this city, on Depot street, at
4.2O o'clock Tuesday afternoon. He
leaves q wife and one child. Had he
lived until next December he would
have been SO years old,
The father aud mother of Frank
Hazen arrived here at 2 o'clock Tues
day morning, from Marion, Ohio.
When the father went to the bedside
he placed his hand gently on the head
of his dying boy, he could only say,
" brave boy, Frank, brave boy" His
mother kissed him, but the poor boy
did not recognize them at the time.
Afterwards he revived somewhat, and
passed away knowing that his father
and mother,:and his wife and child
were near him.
Poor Frank Hazen, brave Frank
Hazen, died q martyr to his heroism
and his devotion to duty. Eulogies
are written Of heroic deeds in valOr
and love Of the hero who plants his
fiag and dies defending 1t Of him who
fights to the death with no selfish
thought of the glory that awaits him |;
but were the history of Frank Hazen's
courage written in the plainest words
of truth and sincerity, his name would
be side by side with those who die
grasping the faith of heroic devotion
to duty. Frank Hazen was found,
burned and bleeding, on his engine,
which he had reversed, the air brakes
Nothing more could be done that was
to do that the lives of others might he
saved, and he did it. Had he jumped
from the locomotive the chances were
all for his escape. What he sacrificed
his life to do saved the lives of many
men, women and children !; for in that
brief moment, when he realized that
death was but few feet ahead, he re-
duced the speed Of his train materially
thus preventing the awful concussiOn
and havoc that would have been inev-
liable.
Frank Haxen was brought to this
city and conveyed to his home last
Saturday. He has freely talked of the
terrible accident and its consequences.
He exonerated the boy Robert Lind
say, the brakeman of the Grand Trunk
freight train, from all blame in caus-
ing the accident. Hazen said he saw
the boy endeavOring to reach the open
switch when he reversed the engine,
set the air. brake and sanded the track.
His mind was quite clear on all the
terrible circumstances. No Drawer
man ever handled y throttle, and no
man ever met \ more heroic death.
The funeral was largely attended,
the VermilliOn Band escOrting the
Brotherhood of Engineers from their
Hall to the residence of the deceased
brother on Depot street, whence the re.
mains were taken to the Presbyterian
Church, where q vast throng were
assembled, twice as many as could get
into the building. Rev r. Nj. Barnes
occupied the pulpit and preached a
most impressive and eloquent discourse
on the occasion. The citizens of DAN
Vile generally turned out to the funeral
thereby showing how deeply they sym
pathizsd with, and how fully they ad-
mired the brave act of the man who
died at his post, with resolute heart,
because he felt it his duty to do so.