Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-21
RALPH SPEER KILLED
Fatal Accid ent to Former Mar
shalltown Boy Occurs at
Ferguson.
Thrown From Milwaukee Gravel
Train and Mangled by the
Wheels.
Lives One and One.half Hours
After the Acknowledgements
Brought Here.

Ralph Speer son of Engineer John NJ.
Speer, of the Iowa Central, and wife, of
this city, was killed this morning in a
railway accident on the Chicago, Mill
waukee & st. Paul, at Ferguson. The
accident occurred at $3.50 o'clock, and
the young man lived until 5. The news
came to Marshalltown by wire from the
deceased's uncle, Mr.. H. c. Modlin,
agent of the Milwaukee at Perry.
Speer was employed as brakeman
for the Milwaukee, and at the time of
his death was in service on q gravel
train on the Council Bluffs division, be-
tween Marion and Perry. He was sit
ting on the edge of the cupola of the
way car when the train stopped ct Fer
guson. So sudden was the jar, as the
brakes We're applied, that he was
thrown to the ground, and the recoil of
the wheels forced one pair of trucks
over his body, across the hips. Neither
leg was severed from the trunk but the
body was so badly crushed that it could
not have been possible to sustain life.
The news to the young mans par
ents came as a most terrible shock.
Mr.. and Mrs. Speer and Miss Speer
were preparing to leave the city for
Oskaloosa, to attend the Central en-
ployes' picnic, when the first telegram
from Mr.. Modlin arrived, stating only
that their son and brother was badly
hurt. A second followed at $3.50 and
was to the effect that he could not live.
The third, at 6, announced that his
death had occurred at S.
Mr.. Speer was very well known on
the Iowa Central road, were he served
eight years in the train service. de
was born at Petersburg, Pa, May 4
1874, and came to Marshalltown with
his parents twenty years ago. He made
his home here until about five years
ago, when he went to Peoria, ILL.,, TO
take charge Of bi'akeman's passenger
run on the night trains, then Nos, ) and
4. After about three years service IN
that capacity he took the Adams ex-
press run on the Centerville branch,
Headquarters Oskaloosa, and about two
years ago went to Hampton, to take
similar run on the Hampton Aigona
branch. He began his service with the
April /.
Mr.. Speer has still continued to make
his home in Hampton, having not yet
completed arrangements to move to
either Perry or Marion, as the case
night be, provided he had remained on
that run. He was married May I, 1901,
TO Miss Pearl Clark, of Hampton, and
four months ago became the father OF
4 little son.
Besides his Immediate family. the de-
ceased is survived by his parents, one
brother, Mr. Earl sspeer of Chicago;
and two sister. Miss VERNE Speer. of
this city, and Mrs. Clegg Boud, of Os-
Saloosa. Mrs Boud Will arrive in the
,ity this evening. and Mr.. Speer will
,each the city from Chicago either this
evening or Sunday morning. Mrs.
Miles KeIleher went to Hampton this
to accompany here the young
wife and infant son of the deceased.
Other relatives living in this vicinity
ire Mr. Joseph Modlin, of Albion,
Grandfather who arrived this morning.
Mrs. Mary Speer and Mrs. j. w. Adams,
If Union. grandmother, who will be
lere this evening.
The remains wer brought to this city
IT 1890, in an ambulance ano taken
o the Densel & Wilbur parlors. The
'uneral arrangements have no. ,een
made, pending the arrival of Mrs. Speer
his evening.