The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1911-04-21
Robt. Fl. Harper.

have not been for years over the death
Of Robt IT, Harper.
n Nearly everybody knew Bob Harper,
q quiet, unassuming, whole, souled,
4 good, honest citizen, for years engaged
here as salesman, lately with j. A.
Coble, Jr. Mr.. Harper left the store
last Friday morning to go across town.
He went to BIewer's Cafe and bought a
piece Of chewing tobacco, and returning
it is supposed he noticed some person
above the passenger depot be wanted to-
see, A freight engine coming south
was detached and had pulled down the
track to the tank below the depot to-
take water Whether Mr.. Harper took
particular notice Of the engine or not it
is not known. He was seen, however,
by two or three parties to start across
the track just above the depot. Wit
nesses said that the engine backed up
with considerable speed, and that when
Mr.. Harper neared the track and start
ed to cross he stumbled and fell on the
track In any event he fell, just exact
" how we have no positive knowledge,
and the engine tank and truck and
drivers Of the engine passed over his
body, crushing and mangling the lower
portion Of his body and legs into a.
shapeless mass.
His chest was also mashed, but not
so badly His legs we're torn from his
body and separated distance Of several
feet along the track. The body was
rolled several feet up the track under
the trucks and the head was bruised
with wound on the back Of the head.
The flagman was above, and it is said
tried every way to get the attention Of
the engineer, and did finally, buttoo1
late to reverse the engine. 1t is also
supposed that Mr.. Harper's attention
was attracted by the fiagman and that
too kept him from seeing the danger.
After the drivers had passed over the
body the engine was brought to a stop
and remained so until it was found that
death had ensued. The engine was
then pulled forward again.
Crowds Of horror-stricken citizens
gathered over the remains and they
we're gathered up and taken to the un-
dertakers, where the body was dressed
and later in the afternoon removed to
the home of Il. i. Cummings on Ex-
change street. where deceased and fam
lily resided.
Robt. Harper was born July z, 1868,
aud reared in the vicinity Of Pleasant
Hill, west Of Riyes. He went to Troy
after leaving school and entered the
employ Of ]. S. Moffatt 4 Co as sales
man, where he remained for a number
OF years.
He was married to Miss Ella Mar
shall, Of Troy, the wedding taking place
in Paducah Jan. 2, 1890 Mrs. Harper
died in August, 1900, leaving two chill
dren, Harry and Lola, who survive also
the demise OF their father
In 1892 Mr.. Harper came to Union
City and was engaged as salesman for
Max Layne, later for CobIe & Clagett
Co. in the department stores as cloth
ing salesman, in which he became in
terested as stockholder, and more re-
Gently for ]. A. Coble, Jr., with whom
he was employed until his death.
Trained in the way Of moral rectitude
by religious parents, he became at an
early age impressed and converted to
the Christian faith and an adherent OF
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at
13. In the church he remained a con-
slant attendant and faithful worker, and
for number OF years was a deacon in
the church OF this city. Bob Harper's
life was clean, his faith simple and inn
movable. In public and political mat
ters he had distinct opinions, but his
nature was too broad and generous TO
assume an unpleasant attitude toward
his neighbor He was courteous, con-
siderate and pleasant in all his relations,
and with these good qualities Of the
head and heart be became easily one OF
our most popular citizens. HIS son, al
most OF age, and his daughter, are left
grief-stricken over his sudden death, as
well As the loss Of kind, fond and
indulgent father. May the mantle Of
an Infinite Wisdom guard them
Seyices were held on Sunday after
noon, April 16, at the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, led by the pastor,
Rev. }. II. Zwingle, and participated in
by the pastors Of the Methodist and
Christian churches, Reys Sellers and
Stuart, also by the visiting minister,
Rev. j. L. Hudgins, Of Nashville, who
was former pastor Of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church here.
The relatives and large eoncourse