Lovelock tribune. (Lovelock, Nev.) 1898-1912, 1907-01-11
Willard A. BiIIups Is Caught
Under Train and Killed
FATAL ACCIDENT SUNDAY NIGHT
Wheels of Tender Crush Both Legs
and Death Comes In a
Few Hours

Another victim has fallen to the
terror of blocked crossings in the
Lovelock yards. This time it Is one
of Lovelock's own people, and so the
terror is brought close home. The
crossing at the south end of the
depot has been a menace to the lives
of the people of Lovelock for many
years. While the town was small
and the traffic light it was not noticed,
but since the business of the railroad
and town has attained its present
volume it becomes more and more
apparent that something must be
done to lessen this menace to the life
and limb of our citizens in going to
and from their daily business trans
actions.
Last Sunday night Willard A.
Billups, son Of Mr.. and Mrs. S.
Billups, lost his life while attempting
20 get across the tracks and go to
his home north of town. The crossing
was blocked with trains and he could
not get through without going under
or over. Thinking it the least danger
Gus, and probably having done the
same thing before, he started to
crawl under the cars between the
tender and first car.
AS he was under the coupling the
engine backed up to spot" the ten
der at the standpipe foe taking a
water supply. The move was a fatal
one for young Billups. The wheels
of the rear truck of the tender
caught him in their cruel grip and
passed over both of his legs, almost
severing one above the knee and
crushing the other at the foot.
Peter Haynes passed by just as the
accident happened. He could hear
the man calling from under the
tender, but in the darkne could not
lacate him. Finally he saw him lying
just in front of the wheels of the rear
truck and went at once to the rescue.
John 7. Reid was passing at the time
and was another of the first at the
side of the injured man.
A crowd soon gathered and the
young man placed upon stretcher
and taken to the Office. of DR.. Pin
niger. That physician being away,
DR.. Martin was called and he started
to attend the injuries and give tenn
porary relief to the intense suffering.
Upon the arrival of the father of the
young man, who had been summoned
from the ranch half mile north of
town, DR.. s. G. Binger was summoned,
and, assisted by DR.. Barnes, he
worked with his patient until 2 o'clock
Monday morning, when death came to
relieve the sufferings of one who, had
he lived, would probably have been a
cripple through life.
Funeral services were held at the
family residence north of town
Wednesday afternoon, and were
largely attended by sympathizing
neighbors and friends. Rev. Johns
officiased at the services and the
floral tributes were many and beauti-
full. Interment was in the Lone
Mountain Cemetery, long line Of
carriages following the body to its
last resting place.
Deceased was born in Iowa June
25th. 1868. When boy he came to
Lovelock with his parents and has re
sided here for more than 20 years
past.
His sudden and tragic end comes
as a great shock to the stricken
family, Of which there remain his
parents, two sisters and brother.
The sympathy of the entire COM
munity goes out to them in their
sorrow, in which expressions the
TRIBUNE earnestlv joins. There is
not much of consolation that we can
offer in this their hour Of sadness,
but it seems that the Heavenly Father
had been merciful in the ending of a
life that might have been but one of
suffering and care, after the sad
accident had happened. We can but
bow in humble submission to Him
MI II tL.a<~. W.n "