Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-21
RUN down BY TRAIN
Henry Rockenfield, OF Chelsea
Killed by a Northwestern
Freight Engine.
Struck While Walking On the
Tracks Just West of Mar
shalltown.
Was About SIS Years Old--Identi.
fled by an Acquaint-
ance.


who was walking to this city from the
west on the Chicago & Northwestern
railway. was instantly killed at noon
TODAY. being struck by an east-bouho
time freight, No. 20, in charge OF CON
ductor William Anderson and Engineer
Lou North.
The accident occurred at point
about 100 feet east of Tower BIZ, or
three miles west of the city. The man
evidently did not hear the approach OF
the train from the west, but instead
was watching a west-bound time
freight, No. 121, coming toward him on
the south track. He stepped off the
track for an instant, evidently con-
fused, and then probably concluded
that between the tracks he would be too
close to the passing train. Accordingly
he stepped back on the north track,
just in time to be struck by the big en-
CINE pulling No. 20.
Conductor Anderson had the train
brought to a standstill and the crew
picked up the body and placed it in
the way car. bringing it to this city at
1890 The man had been instantly
killed, his neck having been broken,
skull fractured and right arm broken.
At l o'clock the remains were removed
from the depot to the undertaking par
lors of Densel & Wilbur, where Coroner
Lierle looked into the case this after
noon.
Until late this afternoon 1t was not
thought 1t could be ascertained who the
man is. There was absolutely nothing
found on his person that would in any
way establish his Identity. He was car
rying a telescope containing several
pieces of small glassware. evidently
sauce dishes. Each was wrapped in
tissue paper and gave evidence of never
having been used. In the telescope were
four colored shirts, with cuffs to match.
They looked as if they had never been
worn. and had no mark upon them eX-
cepting the size, 143a. On white shirt,
that had been worn, was laundry
mark, Roc" A bundle of sassafras
roots had a place in the telescope, be-
ing carefully wrapped in an old news
paper
The only name that could be found t
all on the mans person is contained OH
a small slip of paper, and appears to be
"A. Nelen," but that was considered to
be nothing more than memorandum.
A small bottle OF arnica was in his vest
pocket, bearing the label of r. r.
Rogers, pharmacist, East Peru. Iowa
East Peru is small town on the Great
Western, about thirty-five miles south
of Des Moines. One cent represents the
amount of cash found in the search of
the dead mans clothing.
Late this afternoon Ira c. Flathers,
an engineer of the Marshalltown Light,
Power & Railway Company, residing
at 716 East Linn street, happened to
visit the undertaking parlor and iden-
titled the man as Henry Rockenfield,
who lives in Tama county, near Chel-
sea. Mr.. Fathers said he had known
the man and that he was veteran of
the civil war and had brother, John
Rockenfield, living near Chelsea. Agent
Garvin will communicate with the
brother and inform of the death. This
explains the laundry mark, Roc" and
as further substantiation of his iden-
tity has been found since in another
collar that was found enclosed in one
of the shirts, which bore the name II.
Rockenf1eld," and underneath it the
name Reynolds"
Rockenfield is probably an Ameri-
can, between so and 60 years of age. He
was slight OF stature and would weigh
about 1856 pounds. He was very well
dressed, wearing suit of blue serge
and dark overcoat The body will be
kept here until a reply can be received
from John Rockenfield, brother. VINO
lives on farm between Chelsea and
Haven, Tama county.