Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-04-04
Frank L. Deweese Killed.

Last Saturday evening a tele
gram was received by Mrs. L. w.
Heath from her step-son, Mr.. Ernest
A. Heath, at Pueblo, Colorado, say
ing that her son, Mr.. Frank L.
Deweese, had been struck by train
and killed, and from Mr.. Heath we
learn the following particulars of
the sad tradgedy:
MIR. Heath is a conductor on the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fee Rail-
way, running out from Pueblo, and
MIR. Deweese was acting as brakes
man on his train, and the day of
the accident they were at Pinon, a
station about twelve miles north of
Pueblo, and when about two miles
out of Pinon Frank was sent ahead
to flag a train, while their train
slowly backed onto side track to
allow the train to pass, and had
been parted from Mr.. Heath about
thirty minutes when the accident
happened, which event took place
at $3.50 o'clock on Saturday after
noon, March 80, 1901. The engineer
OF the oncoming train saw some
thing on the track and when he got
near enough to see that it was
man kept up continual whistling
and applied the air brakes but could
not stop the train, and when close
upon him Frank was seen to raise up
but Immediately sink back, his legs
and body being outside the track
and his head and shoulders were
lying inside the rails when the
pilot of the engine struck him Just
below the right shoulder blade and
his body was hurled to one side.
The train was stopped, backed up
where they picked up the unfortu-
nate man in an unconcious condi-
ton who was carried into the bag
gage car and the train started for
Pueblo, pausing for an instant at
Pinon to allow Conductor Heath to
get on board and in whose arms
Frank died before they reached that
city, about fifteen minutes after
being hur, and was never cognizant
to passing events. Arriving at
Pueblo the body was embained,
prepared for burial and on Monday
his wife, her mother, Mrs. Ellis
Crane and Mr.. Heath started east
with the body, and arrived in Extra
on Wednesday morning. After
allowing the remains to lay at the
home of his mother, at West Town,
for few hours they were taken to
the Christian church. which large
editice was filled with sorrowing
friends. attesting to the love and
esteem in which the deceased was
held, for Frank lived among us for
many years, and everyone always
had a good word to say for him;
and where Elder Whitaker preach
ed an able sermon from the text,
If man die shall he live again:"
After the discourse the bereaved
relatives took the last look at their
beloved dead and then the funeral
procession wendell it's way to the
Extra Cemetery where all that was
earthly of our friend, Frank L. De-
weese, was laid in grave by the
side of his father, Mr.. J. A. Deweese,
who has gone on before.
Frank l.. Deweese was twenty
three years, six months and nine
days old when he met the accident
which resulted in his death. Of him
Mr.. Heath says that during his stay
in the west his record was first
class, that he was counted one of
the best employees on the road, did
not touch, taste nor handle intoxi-
cants in any form and was fast
forming wide circle of friends
among the best people of the COM
munity in which he lived. He car
ried life insurance policy in the
Maccabees for 100000, and he be-
ing III good standing that amount
will fall to his bereaved widow.
To our loving friends who so gra-
ciously ministered unto us in our
recent sad bereavement and for
those dark days immediate
ly following, whether by sweet SER
vice. expressions of sympathy,
potfered aid or by floral tributes to
our dear departed, we extend our
heartfelt thanks.
MRS. ETTIE DEWEESE,
MIR. AND MRS. l.. w. HEATH,
Mr.. ERNEST HEATH,
Miss IRIS HEATH.