The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-21
His Mangled Body Lies by the Roadside
all Night and is not Discovered
Until this Morning
Full Particulars Of the Dreadful Acct.
dent, and Sketch Of
His Life.

lTleHuS, tHeH uOeS IL seem nara luueeu,
that the angel Of death should strike him
with its blighting hand, and bid him to
the other world. The pleasant and joy
full household is turned into an oasis of
mourning, and the happiness of the fam.
lily circle is extinguished
Such sad case is the one which the
ARGUS is compelled to furnish its readers
today. A kind husband, loving and
indulgent father and respected citizen,
has been called to that bourne from
whence no traveller returns in most
shocking and horrible manner. Little did
Mr.. Joseph Baker think when he started for
the Hillsdale fair last Tuesday morning
that he would never return to Rock Island
alive. He did not imagine or picture to
his mind that coroner's jury would hold
an inquest over his mangled remains on a
country road. If he had, he would never
have started on what proved to be his
death journey. But such is the uncer-
tainty of life, that there is no telling when
the grim monster will claim you for a
victim, and thus it was that Mr. Joseph
Baker was made yield up his life
THE TERRIBLE NEWS.
The first inkling of the dreadful affair
did not reach Rock Island until about
half past eight clock this morning, when
word was sent to Coroner Halves that his
services were required on the body of Mr..
Joseph Baker. which had been found
lying by the roadside. Excitement ran
high as this report spread over the
streets, and nothing definite could be
ascertained as to the cause of his
death. The fact that it was known
he had considerable valuable jewelry with
him, led many to believe that he had been
waylaid Then it vas known that the horst
he was driving was very gentle ami
nal, and not likely to run away. Coroner
Halves and his deputy, L. V. Eckhart,
started Immediately for the scene, as also
did several citizens. While the greatest
regret was felt at Mr. Bakers untimely
death, there was considerable curiosity to
know the exact cause.
On inquiry, an ARGUS reporter learned
that the unfortunate man had left the CITY
on Tuesday morning for the purpose of
attending the Hillsdale fair He had
taken with him show case containing
iewelry, which he loaded in light wagon
He started for home yesterday afternoon,
and it is supposed that he reached the
place where the awful accident oc-
CURED, about half past eight last
evening Such conclusion has been
arrived at from the fact that at that time
a family living near by were startled by a
crashing noise, accompanied by a shout
or cry. Some of the household took a
lantern and went down to the road, but
all was still, and they could see no trace
of any one. The spot where the accident
occurred is at sharp turn in the road,
and about a quarter OF mile above the
old Moline brewery, and near the Grinnell
school house. The road is very narrow
at this point, and the accident is account
ed for from the fact that the night was
very dark so that the deceased could not
plainly see the road, and that the horse
was blind in the right eye-the
side ON which the accident occurred. In
consequence of getting too far over on
the righthand side of the road, the wheels
of the wagon ran off the embankment,
which is about seven feet steep, at that
place Mr.. Baker was thrown out, and
the wagon fell on top of him. breaking
his neck, one arm and leg, so that deatt
resulted simultaneously. The horse fell
on its side, and being held by the harness
could not move and lay where it fell, al
night. About seven o'clock this morning
the CHASTITY spectacle was first witnessed
By farmer who was coming to town,
who hastily made known his horrible find
The horse was embarrassed, and raised tc
its feet with great difficulty, being some
what bruised from the fall, and lying in
an uncomfortable condition all night. The
earth was soft from the rain that had
fallen, and the imprints of the wheels,
where they ran off the embankment could
be plainly seen. The glass in the show
case was smashed into thousand pieces
and the jewelry and some money which
had been placed in the case, were scatter
ed over the ground.
coRoNER's VERDICT.
Following is the verdict found by tn,
coroner's jury:
We, the undersigned jurors, sworn Il
inquire into the death of Joseph Baker
on oath do find that he came to his death
by the one horse and wagon which he wa
driving. running off the embankment OIL
the north side of the road north of the
Grinnell farm in South Moline, and tn,
wagon falling on him, breaking his neck
and inficting other injuries
And we, the jury, do further find thai
the commissioners Of highways of Soutl
Moline are subject to censure for tn,
narrowness of the road. which is only
about twenty feet wide, without pro
lection from the embankment.
WV. A. MEEsE, foreman
THos. B. CRALLE,
P s.. McGLYNN,
| uorr