The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-12-13
MET DEATH UNDER THE WHEELS
Carl Hamilton, a Brakeman, Fell
From the Cars at Mattison, Col.
Was Going West on the Third Section OF
Freight No 81 Sunday lIOrninE-BOdy
Taken to His Former Home at Rock
Island, III, for Burial.

Carl Hamilton, a Rock Island brake
man of this city, fell from the top of
the third section OF freight No. 81 early
last Sunday morning as the train was
pulling into Mattison, Col, and vas in
stantly killed. The train left here Sat
urday night about nine o'clock in charge
Of Conductor Wickersham.
None Of the crew saw him fall and it
will never be known how the accident
occurred. Hamilton was head brakeman
but was riding in the cabOose when the
engineer whistled for MattisoD, and
he started over the train of IL cars, say
ing he would take water for the fireman.
When the train stopped B. A. Meal
lister, the rear brakeman, left the ca
bose to look the train over. As he pro
ceeded along the train at the third
car from the engine be found his fellow
trainmen under the last pair Of trucks Of
the third car He was laying on his
back with head and shoulders outside
the rails, and was crushed at the waist.
The body was not mangled or his cloth
ing torn. His watch had been smashed
and stopped at Sol o'clock. The body
was taken to Colorado Springs and pre-
pared for shipment to Rock Island, H.,
where interment viii be made and where
his mother and two brothers reside.
The body went through GoOdland
Tuesday morning on No. 6, accompanied
by brother, B. Hamilton, and when the
train reached GoOdland he was Joined
by Ed Carmichael, an intimate friend of
the dead man, who went as a represen-
tative of Tip Top lodge No. 396 B. of L.
F., to attend the funeral.
Carl Hamilton vas well and favorably
known and he had host Of friends. He
was a native Of Rock Island, H., and
was born 36 years ago. He came from
family of railrOaders, his father being
one Of the early engineers Of the Rock
Island road. Besides his brother, Benton
Hamilton, an engineer OF this division,
another brother, Allen Hamilton, is an
engineer on the Illinois division. Carl
spent his bOyhOod days in Rock Island
and In 1888 he entered the employ Of the
Rock Island road as a fireman, doing his
first work in this capacity for Engineer
j. L. Boyle, Of this city, on the Illinois
division. In 1887 he came west and
worked out of Horton for a time and
when the Dodge City branch was built
be fired the first engine to reach that
town over Rock Island rails. Later he
worked out Of Harrington and in 1893 he |
traded of" with Fireman Thrall and
came to GOodland. Several years later |
he was promoted to engineer but re- |
signed before he had made a trip in that /
position. He then went to Galveston, Tex,
where he ran a switch engine for some /
time and early last spring he returned to /
Goodland and obtained employment as a /
brakeman. Carl Hamilton was en-
doged with q iovial and pleasant |
disposition, and it created for him /
popularity that few possess, and many
can recall his familiar greeting Of sold 4
friend" To the older employees who /
have labored with him on this and other
divisions OF the road his death comes to /
them as taking one from the original /
ranks that came west when the great /
railroad system started to build across
the plains. He was a member Of Tip Top
lodge No. 1876 B.LF. and carried 81, 5OOin-t
In that order. The lodge held a
special meeting Sunday afternoon and /
elected Ed Carmichael as a delegate TO 4
attend the funeral. They also sent !
a large contribution Of money to the
local lodge at Rock Island for floral 1
offerings.