The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-04-01
John L. Mcclure Dies Sudden
ly at Fulton
Met With Three Serious Accidents,
Which Crippled Him For Life
His Escapes.
BURIED WITH MASONIC HONoRs

oldest engineer in term of service on
the Illinois Central, died Saturday
night at $3.50 o'clock in Futon. He
had just pulled his train into the
: station, resigned his engine to the
hostler and gone to his boarding
house when seized with a fit of
coughing. A blood vessel in his
throat burst and death followed In a
lsnort time. The body was brought
back to Paducah on the train he was
to have brought in Sunday morning
lat 7:45 o'clock, and was taken to the
home on the Pool road. This after
noon at 2 o'clock the funeral wac
lneld at the home and a special train
composed Of I'm engine, coach and
baggage car, conveyed the body from
the union station to Trimble street,
where it was placed in the hearse
land taken to Oak Grove cemetery.
1.-The funeral was held with Masonic
honors. and largely attended.
Jonn L. MCGUIRE was born in Erie,
IPa., June 10, 1851, but reared in
Tennessee. At the age OF Is years
he began railroading as helper on
the Nashville and Northwestern at
Nashville. After three years service
he came to Paducah to work on the
New Orleans and Ohio, now the llli-
Inos Central
He worked on the section and
while trying to board a construction
train, fell under the wheels. His
lspine was dislocated, causing him to
be stopped permanently; his head
brushed and feet injured and for
eleven months he remained in bed.
Recovering he was made a brakeman
when the road extended between Pa
ducah and Union City and but one
train was run daily, composed of
lengineer, fireman, conductor and
three brakemen. In 1871 when the
lroad was extended to Rives, Tenn,
he was made fireman under II, Nor
ton and fred the first train to Rives.
lin 1873 he became an engineer and
was given charge of a pile driver out
lift. For one year AMI a half he re-
manned on the pile driver.
His second accident occurred jan
uary 81 1875, at Boaz Station, a
flew miles south of Paducan. The
Iengine No. 5, was standing on the
track motionless. without warning it
Exploded. The smoke stack went 400
yards away, the fire box on top of
the Boaz depot and Engineer Nc
CURE was blown into a tree so yards
distance His injuries, a triple frac-
ture of the right leg and a bruised
body. laid him up eight months.
On recovering he got coal run
between Paducah and Fulton and
December 20, 1876, when the road
was completed to Newbern, Dyers-
burg and Covington he ran to these
stations. On August IL, 1882, the
road was completed to Memphis and
Mcclure mad the distinction of pull
ing the first train bearing the Off
Icials mayor and council of Paiucah
to Memphis where the golden spike,
marking the ending Of the road, was
driven. He was given a regular pas
lsenger run after that between Padu-
cab and Memphis and had held III
until death.
In 1888 his third serious accident
occurred. He was going south at
Ripley, Tenn, when a box car came
wildly down steep grade. 1t struck
his engine and knocked it into the
ditch, rode over the baggage car and
wrecked itself against the bank. Nc
lGulre was taken from under his en-
Igine with few bruises. his escape
Having been miraculous.
Because of his advanced age and
long service, he was given his choice
of the accommodation runs between
Paducah. Fulton and Memphis. A.
flew years ago he gave up the fast
flyer and took the accommodation
run which he had since held.
John L. MCGUIRE was a popular
railroad and lodge man. He was a
member of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Engineers. Masons and knights
and Ladies of honor and took a
great interest in each. He represent
ed the engineers in the local Illinois
Central hospital board. He leaves
wife and brother. Mr.. ]. b. Nc
lGuire,of Fourteenth and Clay streets.
Ia grocer; two sisters, Mrs. Frances
schoffner, OF this cItr, and Mrs. Mary
r,oon <f rrnto., C:fl 81 fl,o fol,.,u,