The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-12-27
MfS. MARY EUSBY+
DIES INSTANTLY
KILLED in CROSSING ACCIDENT
EAST OF ROSE HILL.
TaAINSMASHES AUTOMOBILE
Death of Mrs. 5usby is Fifth To Dc
cur in Family Within Half Year
Father Died Only
Last Week.

Mary Jane Busby, widow of the late
Doctor W. l.. Busby of Delta, was in
stantly killed in crossing accident
by. Rock Island freight engine q
little before five o'clock Saturday ev,I
ening, December %, 1917, while in an
auto with her two sons enroute to
Rose Hill from Delta.
The death of Mrs. Busby is the
fifth in train of fatalities in the
family within the period of a little
over five months. The first was the
death of Doctor w. l.. Busby, well
known physician and resident of
Delta. Elijah and Eliza Busby, par
ents of Doctor Busby, died within a
few hours of each other, Friday night
and Sunday, December ID and 16, for
whom a double funeral was held last
Monday, December II. Death of
James f. Clark, of Oskaloosa, last
Wednesday, December 10, 1917, was
the fourth member of the family to
be taken, and the fifth death to occur
was that of Mr.. Clark's daughter, Mrs.
Busby, Saturday afternoon.
Double funeral service at the Wy
more cemetery today, Monday, De-
cember "a, made the second ceremo-
ny of the kind in a week of leach
other.
Is Bad Crossing.
This distressful accident occurred
in the east edge of the town of Rose
Hill, about ten miles east of Oska-
loosa, at the point where the Great
White Way crosses the Rock Island
right of way. There is a curve OF
the track here and the road also
makes bend. Buildings also OBJ
struct the view and clear sight of the
track in the direction of the town is
had just passed them tended to make
the party less alert as to the cross
ing The freight had been side
tracked at Rose Hill and followed the
passenger out of town Immediately.
Had been To Delta.
The Busbys had been at the Of
home place with other members of
the family during the day, making a
division of the personal effects of the
elder Busbys, the ''keep-sakes," books,
pictures and other belongings to be re-
served from the sale of the property
the auto and were with Mrs. Busby at
the time of the accident.
Mrs. Busby and her two sons, James
and Lauren, were in the Busby car en-
route to Rose Hill, and were along the
south side of the tracks going west
when the east bound passenger train
went by them. They did not think
of another train following so closely
and paid little attention to the cross
ing. They neither saw nor heard the
approaching freight as they came to
the crossing.
The freight engine was fairly upon
the auto as it rolled onto the crossing
and struck it fairly in the center. The
car was carried toward the east dis
lance of five or six car lengths, almost
a block before the train was brought
to a stop.
Killed Instantly.
Mrs. Busby had died instantly. The
skull had been crushed, the limbs
broken and the body mangled James
Busby sustains broken arm, while
the other son got off with minor
scratches and bruises. James was
driving and Lauren was in the front
seat with him. While the latter sus
tanned no serious injury, he was al
most completely stripped of clothing,
Coroner E. M Cheesman was i'm
smediately summoned from Oskaloosa
and was at the scene in about a half
hour after the happening. He
brought the body to town to be cared
for.
An inquest will be held some time
during the week. The date has not
been definitely arranged on account
of the interference of the holidays.
Double Service.
Funeral service will be held at the
late residence in Rose Hill, at eleven
O'Clock today, Monday, and the body
taken to Wymore cemetery for inter
ment at the same time as that of the
father, James F. Clark, who passed
away at his home in Oskaloosa We'd
nesday, December 10, 1917. The fun
eral of Mr.. Clark which had been ar
ranged for Sunday at two o'clock at
the Wymore church was postponed
until two o'clock today, Monday, De-
cember "a, with interment to take
place in the Wymore cemetery at the
same time as that of the daughter.