Selected Death notices from the Lafayette Advertiser 1873-1905
Submitter: Audrey Hopper (RHopper454 @ aol.com)
Source: Lafayette Advertiser
Date: May 26, 2005


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From the Lafayette Advertiser
Dec 6. 1905 cols. 2 & 3

MANGLED BY TRAIN
Allie Sprole While Uncoupling cars, gets foot caught between rail and guard rail 
and is run over.

     Wednesday night Allen James Sprole, yard engine foreman met a terrible 
death by being run over by the cars in the east end of the yard.  The accident
Happened at 11:50 o?clock, while he was showing a comrade how to make a 
difficult uncoupling.  He stepped in between the moving cars, and while walking 
along working at the pin, stepped between the guard rail and rail.  His foot 
became caught and before he could extricate it the cars bore down upon him, 
crushing him to the ground.  The cars were promptly stopped and his fearfully 
mangled body removed.  Though horribly hurt he was still conscious and 
remained so until his death in about an hour.  Drs. Clark and Martin were 
summoned, but found him beyond human aid, save to relieve his sufferings until 
the end came, which was but a question of minutes.  He died at 1:15 a. m.   The 
night of the accident was to have been his last night work as the next day he was 
to begin day duty.  The remains were taken from the yard to Vigneaux?s 
undertaking establishment to be prepared for
Burial and were then taken to his home.
     Allie as he was know to everybody, was one of the most popular young men of 
the town and his death was learned with expressions of sincere regret by hundreds 
of friends who liked him for his genial accommodating and friendly ways, and 
esteemed him for his splendid qualities.
     He was born in Lafayette September 7, 1877, and has resided here all of his 
life.  He attended the public schools here and about 6 or 7 years ago entered the 
employ of the Southern Pacific, which company he served faithfully and well.  
His father, Oscar Sprole, died when he was quite small and his mother a number 
of years ago, leaving the charge of his younger brothers and his sister to him.  
This charge he faithfully and truly kept.
     Allie was a member of Mogan Lodge No. 317 B of R. T. and also of Lafayette 
Fire Company No. 1.  Into whatever duty fell to his share he put zealous work, 
and in giving his service to the Fire Department he did it enthusiastically and with 
a will.  At every fire he distinguished himself by his boldness, courage and 
splendid work, and wherever a man was needed to fight the flames, Allie was 
ready to go, thoughtless of danger to himself.  
     At the outbreak of the Spanish American was he was on of a number of young 
men from this city to volunteer.  His company was sent to camp at Jackson 
Barracks, New Orleans, but never saw service in Cuba as the war was concluded 
before need to send them to the front occurred.
     Funeral services were held Thursday at 3 p. m. at the family residence on Lee 
avenue by Revs. F. E. Rogers of the Presbyterian church and Jas. I. Kendrick of 
the Baptist church.  A large number of sympathizing friends were present, also 
members of Mogan Lodge B. of R. T., and the Fire Department in uniform, who 
accompanied the remains to the Protestant cemetery, where Morgan Lodge read 
the funeral services of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen over the remains.  
Rev. Kendrick pronounced the prayer.
     He leaves an aunt, Miss Kavanaugh, two sisters, Misses Mary and Edna and 
two brothers, Eastin and Oscar Sprole.