Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-19
BRAKEMAN FATALLY
INJURED BY TRAIN
JOHN BURNS, OF THIS CITY, DIES
At HAMPTON SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.
LYING WITH HIS HEAD
NEAR TRACK WHEN STRUCK
First Thought That Man Had Been
Struck by Lightning and Then Hit
by Train, But Lightning Theory Is
Disproved at lnvestigation-Bod
Brought to This City.

John Burns, aged "a, Oldest son of
Mr.. and Mrs. William Burns, EOS South
Seventh avenue. died Sunday afternoon
at $3.50 in the hospital al Hampton,
supposedly as result of injuries re-
celved when he was struck by freight
train No. %, north bound on the NJ. &
ST. L. Saturday night about midnight
at point ee-fourths of a mile south
OF Geneva.
Whether Burns death was caused
directly by the injuries he received
when he was struck by the train, or
whether he was unconscious and did
not see or hear the train coming is
question which is puZzling trainmen,
and which will probably never be sat
tsfactorily answered. Burns did not
recover consciousness from the time he
was struck until he died.
Lightning Theory Disproved.
1t was first thought that Burns
might have been struck by lightning,
and thus rendered unconscious, even
before he was struck by the train, but
this theory has been practically dis
proved by the crew of the train which
struck him They say there was no
vivid lightning during the time that
Burns was near the track, waiting to
flag the train.
Burns was acting as brakeman on
train No. "a, a south bound freight,
which left Albert Lea at $50 Saturday
evening, with Conductor Bert West and
Engineer Walter Ferries. Berns was
sent back to flag train No. 95, north
bound. between Geneva and Faulkner,
while his train went on to Geneva He
had been waiting about an hour before
the north bound train came along.
When this train got within few feet
of Burns, Engineer Charles Rogers saw
the body Of a man lying with his head
close to the rails. He endeavored TO
stop his engine, but it was too late and
the step Of the engine pilot struck
Burns cutting a deep cash in his head
and also making q severe cut over his
left eye.
Investigation 10 Held.
He was removed to the hospital al
Hampton, where he never regained
consciousness, and died at $3.50 Sun
day afternoon. In the investigation
conducted this morning by Trainmas-
ter G. W. Barr and the crew of the
train which struck Burns, the theory
that he was struck by lightning was
practically disposed OF.
Conductor Bert West, in charge OF
the train on which Burns was work
ing, said that Burns was in good
spirits all the way down from Albert
Lea Engineer Charles Rogers, OF the
train which struck Burns, said Burns
did not seem to see the train coming
AS he was lying down it was tmpos-
sible to see him until the engine was
almost upon him.
Burns was married, and leaves 6
widow but no children. He is also sur
vived by his parents, one brother,
James, and three sisters, Ella, Anna,
and Margaret, all at home He and his
wife had also been living at the Will
lam Burns home. The body was
brought to this city from Hampton
this morning.
Funeral "Wednesday Morning.
Funeral services will be held from
St, Mary's church Wednesday morning
at o'clock. Burial will follow in Riv-
erside