Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-05-02
KILLED AZ MOI II ms /; i l['lI TAliTlY \
Brakeman 0raaley Loses Mis- Lie. As
F Result Of Accident Last satur- "a "a
+ day 1t i sarwster june. zss@ \: I:

:. AnOtnor uOrf1Dle dcclQent Oh tWnlcnsl
q young life was: the victim has been:
added to the list of Great Northern'|
accidents. Last Saturday morning:
about II O'Clock, while at work switch
ing at Clearwater Junction, Patrick
r. Branley, head end brakeman on
east-bound extra freight No. 702, met
almost instant death by being struck
by switchpost while hanging to the
side of car. He was struck in such
a violent manner as to crush his skull
and was thrown between the moving
cars. Only the prompt action of fellow
trainmen saved him from being crushed
beneath the wheels, altho his injuries
were already of such q nature, as to
result fatally. He was picked up and
placed ON the engine and immediately,
taken to Minneapolis, but he died be-
fore he could be removed from the
Minneapolis & st. Louis station to the
hospital. 49,. t..
Branley made his headquarters. in
Willmar while employed as. brake
man on the east end, q position which
he had held for the, past year: He
was a young man who was well liked
by all railway employees, and made
many friends in this city He was %
years of age and was the son of Mr..
and Mrs. Patrick Branley, of the town
of Harvey, Meeker county.
The body was taken to the county
morgue to await the arrival of rela-
tives,: who came the same day from
Litchfield and brought the remains
back to that city the same evening.
The following particulars are taken
from yesterdays Litchfeld Indepen-
dent: p. -.
Patrick r. Branley, son of Patrick
Branley of Harvey, was killed Satur-
day morning at Minneapolis while
working as: brakeman on the Great
Northern, railway He was running
on q through freight, and passed
Litchfeld about O'Clock the same
morning. On reaching :. Minneapolis
some three or: four hours later hes met
q sudden death. He was hanging to
the. side; ;of = box car and was: struck
by a switch post: ! -, -
A telegram brought the news of his
death here, and his father was noti-
fed, He came to town, and in com
pany with John c. Branley and agent
AL. j. Whitaker Of this city went down
on the afternoon train, and brought
the remains back in the evening. =.
Deceased was employed in the depot
here for considerable time as assist
ant and baggage man, and about a
year ago went on the road as brake
man, and of late had been on the run
between Willmar and the cities. He
was % years of age, and ayoung man
popular with his acquaintances. :. His
death in this manner is deeply de-
plored. .~
The remains were brought home
Saturday evening, and the funeral has
been set for tomorrow at 10 O'Clock
with services at the Forest City Catho-
lie church. ::',@'. =
The particulars OF the accident
appear to. be about as follows: On
reaching the Minneapolis yards some
cars were to be set out on an up grade,
and the engineer was compelled: to
start the cars at fast rate of speed
in order to have them overcome the
grade and go the required distance.
Branley was cutting the cars. off, and
was obliged to hang to the side of the
car with one hand and hold up the
drawbar lever wi h the other SO the
cars would cut loose. While in this
position he struck the: switch post with
his head and side, probably fracturing
the skull and breaking ribs. He was
picked up and started fort hospital:
but lived only about hall IN hour.
after the accident. ! ~
Deceased was young man of good
disposition and habits ana his death
is a sad blow to the family: He was
dutiful son and always in passing
thru this city, if he had time, he would
telephone out to his mother in Harvey
and let them know how he was getting
along. -s,@ g.. ~ /. = ~
Deceased was q grandson of<William
O'Keefe, Sr., the we'll known old
settler of Harvey town, and q young
man Of whom all speak in terms Of the
highest praise. !" : ~
Leo Penney, the rear-end brakeman
who was with Branley when the fatal
accident happened and who was his
roommate in this city, states that the
unfortunate young man had taken out
. policy in the Continental Casualty
Insurance CO. only . short time be-
fore the accident. His mother was
the beneficiary and the policy was
sent to her only last Thursday: s +: