Fulton County IN Archives Obituaries.....Shireman, William November 1880 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Laurie Lewis lewishouse@rtcol.com November 15, 2011, 11:21 am The Rochester Sentinel Saturday, November 20, 1880 A frightful accident occurred at the railroad crossing on the Warsaw road Monday afternoon in which Wm. SHIREMAN lost his life in a shocking manner. The person spoken of lived a few miles out of town and made quite a business of furnishing wood to the citizens of Rochester. In coming and returning from town, he must necessarily cross the railroad at the point named. He had done so hundreds of times in safety but on Monday he was not so fortunate. He came to town some time during the day and was returning to his home and family in the evening just as the southbound freight train was due. On nearing the track where it crossed the road, he heard the engine whistle blow and thinking that he could cross in advance of the train he urged on his team. He was successful in getting his horses across and would have escaped unharmed if the horses had not become frightened and stopped just at a point where the wagon was left standing directly over the track. The train on a down grade came thundering on and Shireman's best efforts to escape were unavailing. His team would move neither forward or backward and in that position the engine struck the wagon entirey demolishing it. One horse was killed, the other escaped unhurt. Shireman was knocked from his wagon and landed on the cow catcher in such a position that he was caught and supported upon it by the engineer until the train stopped at the depot, a few rods from where the accident occurred. It was then discovered that the unfortunate man had received several injuries about his head, his shoulder was crushed and several of his ribs broken. In an unconscious condition he was conveyed to the MANITAU HOUSE, kept by Mr. CLARK where he lingered in great agony until after midnight when death relieved him of his suffering. The deceased is known as an honorable and honest man and labored incessantly to support his family, consisting of a wife and six children who are left in a no enviable circumstance. On Tuesday morning, V. T. MALOTT, General Manager of the I. P. & C. R.R. arrived on a special train at the scene of disaster to learn the particulars of the sad affair. At his instance a court of inquiry will be held before Esquire STRADLEY next Tuesday forenoon at which several eye witnesses will be called to testify and establish the carelessness or negligence of the party responsible for the destruction of life and property. Additional Comments: Wendell C. Tombaugh File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/fulton/obits/s/shireman895gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb