Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-08-23
A. Bruce Osler Meets Fatal
Accident When Stepping
sa of Train in Dark,
1o'slH sisss s's ROSS TRACK
AFTER ALIGHTING
Was Hurrying Home After
Absence From City With
54th Regt. Band. ~

Anxious to see his parents, from
whom he had been separated for the
past two weeks and to again be ct
home, Bruce .Osler. the 16 year old son
Of Mr.. and Mrs. A. b. Osler, jumped
from west bound Rock Island passen-
ger train No. All last evening near
South Cooper avenue about 1855 while
1t was in motion and was thrown be-
meath the wheels and killed instan-
taneously. The trucks passed over
the unfortunate lads head, severing
the member and mangling it beyond
recognition. The body was first seen
by party OF people on an east end
street car enroute from the show
grounds as 1t lay motionless across the
Rock Island track
The police department was notified
and Night Captain Jack smith arrived
on the scene shortly. Coroner J. w.
Elerick was also notified and took
charge of the remains.
Was In Hurry to Get Home.
Bruce as he was commonly known
by his companions, was in hurry to
get home and this is given as his rea.
son for alighting from the train at
this point. He was one Of the young
est members of the Fifty-fourth regi-
ment band which returned from Den
ver Wednesday morning. The band
left for KeosauQua ut 8 O'Clock the
same morning, where they remlined
until last evening. Leaving JKecsau-
qua shortly after 6 O'clock Bruce re-
fmained In the, coach with the rest Or
the musicians until the train pulled
into the Ottumwa yards AZ the train
reached the Morrell plant young Osler
told couple OF the members OF the
band that he thought he would get OF
the train at Elm street and go directly
to HIS home which Is located on the
corner OF Elm and East Second street.
The lad evidently thought the train
was going too fast when they reached
Elm street, as he did not attempt to
get off until they reached Cooner
avenue, one block west. An this point
he alighted and was not heard OF asain
until noticed by occupants of an East
Main street car, lying across the
tracks. Aside from his head Icing
mangled he was not much bruised ex-
cept couple OF small cuts on the left
hand. N
Born In OttunnWa.
Alexander H-l.e Osler was born Ia
Ottumwa Feb, i: 1897, and had lived
NIL his life in this city. de was IN
active worker in the East End Pres
byterian church and also an ardent
member Of the Young Mems hristian
association. Bruce joined the Fast
End church at the age Of eleven years
and was a member OF the choir ana OF
Rev. w. Fl. Hormel's bible class at the
time of his death. He was also q
member of the Y. M. C. A. orchestra
and bible class He was q meme
ber Of the senior class of the Ottnnwa
high school and would have graduated
next June at the age Of II years. For
the past year he had been member
OF the Fifty-fourth regiment band and
was one of the youngest members OF
the organization.
One of the consoling thoughts to his
bereaved parents, brothers and sisters
is the thoughtfulness Of the youth
when last seen at home Upon return.
ing with the band Wednesday morning
at o'clock from Denver, he spent half
an hour at home in the interval be-
tween his return from the west and
the departure of the train for Keosau-
qua. Although less than two hours In
the city, he hastened home and spent
the short time with his mother. He
brought each member of the family
some remembrance of his western
trip and left them with his mother be-
fore leaving for Keosauqua. This was
his last visit home before his death.
Besides his parents two sisters and
two brothers are lett to mourn his loss.
They are Mrs. Helen Fishbeck OF Mas
on City, Miss Winnifred Osler OF thfs
city, William M. Osler OF Grand Forks,
N. D.. and Paul G. Osler, Of this city.
Word has been received from his
brother and sister out OF the city and
the latter Is expected late today. The
former will arrive Saturday night.
The funeral services will be held
Sunday afternoon, but the time has
not been definitely set.