Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-21
TERRIBLE.
A Bright Young Conductor, Meets
with a sad and Fatal Accident at
Barst0w.

bTlSnt nOuhs NrANSNS
with sad and Fatal Accident at
Barstow.
A sad and terrible accident occurred at
Barstow this morning, as q result OF
which one of the brightest and most pop
ular conductors on the c., B. & Q. road
will probably lose his life. or at least be
manned for life. 1t was Jack O'Connor
of this city, who, while pulling coupling
pin between two freight. cars, was
caught by the break beam, and thrown
to the ground, and before he could re-
cover himself, the great cruel wheels of
one of the cars had passed over both his
legs frightfully mangling them. The
young man was tenderly cared for by MIR.
G. J. Dempsey foreman of the C., B. u q.
round house in this city, who was at Bars
tow; and who Immediately informed Divis-
ion Freight and Passenger Agent Mack of
this city, and when the unfortunate suf-
ferer was brought to this city on freight
cabCose at 1890 o'clock Mr.. Mack had an
ambulance at the depot for him and he was
taken to ST. Luke's Hospital. where Drs.
Truesdale and Barth are attending him.
The right leg is mangled below the knee,
the left one Just above the knee, the left
thigh is broken and there is severe
punctured wound above the hip on the
left side.
Though conscious at times, the young
man has not yet sufficiently rallied
from the shock to undergo amputallon,
ard it is probable that he will not. DIR.
Truesdsle said this afternoon that he
was sinking rapidly AMI that death must
end his suffering soon. Should he recov>
er, however, both limbs will be amputa~
ted near the knee. as they are in shreds
below that joint.
John 0'Connor had been in the service
of the c., B. & @ company for ten
years. Commencing as an operator, he
became skilled in that capacity, and after
serving IN this city and at Port Byron
Junction, he commenced railrosding for
the benefit of his health three years ago,
taking the position as local freight con-
ductor between here and Monmouth
He soon gained the respect and conf
dence of his superiOrs, and was among
the first in line of promotion for passen>
ger conductor. For two weeks he had
been running Conductor Whitfeld's pas
senge- trais from Rock Island to Sterling
and had gone back to his old run this
morning, having gotten as far as Barstow
at O'Clock whea the accident occurred.
He was to have been given a passenger
train from Rock Island either to Sterling
or Savanna the first of the month when
the new road opens.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Conductor 0Connor was twenty-fO
years of age, and his father having died
when he was quite young. he was
obliged to seek employment, and has been
the malnstay of his widowed mother and a
family of children since 1t was through
his efforts that two of his brothers
acquired the knowledge of telegraph
and both now have good positions. He
resided with his mother, corner of Fifth
avenue and Twcnty>third street. His
brothers are: Patrick, a freight conductor
on the G., B. & Q. road; James, night
operator in the Western Union telegraph
office, this city, and Thomas, an operator
at Davenport. Mrs. Lizzie Williams, of
this city. is his only sister. Misfortune
has not overtaken young man in Rock
Island before, where so much general
sympathy has been manifested and regre'
so deep.
DEAD
Conductor O'Counor expired at ST
Luke's hospital at $50 this afternoon
His brothers and his sister were at hi:
bedside. as was Division Agent Mack and
other railroad men who had attended hin
constantly since the accident. The flu
neral will occur at Monmouth Saturday
morning Deceased was a member o
Division, No. 80. Brotherhood Of Rail
road Conductors.
A sUPERINTENDENT's TRIBUTE.
Division Ticket Agent Mack telegraph
ed Supt Brown the sad particulars ant
received in reply the following dispatch
GERLAw, October. 81.
Ii. d. Mack-Your telegram received
JObE OCUnnor was one of the frs
men with whom | got acquaint
cd, on this division and t
know him was to love and respect him
Please tender to bis mother. sister an
brothers my heartfelt sympathy in thi
overwhelming affection. would like t
lie advised of the time fixed upon for tn
funeral, as many Of his friends will de
sire to attend W. c. BRc#s.
}Sh03r by yoiJ bGLL0t Fore7ilsr %. that in a