Nansemond County-Portsmouth City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Buckner, Robert H., 1921 

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ROBERT H. BUCKNER 

ENGINEER KILLED WHEN HEAD STRUCK COAST LINE BRIDGE 

ROBERT H. BUCKNER, OF THIS CITY KNOCKED FROM HIS TRAIN NEAR SUFFOLK 

ENGINE CONTINUED IN CHARGE OF FIREMAN 

   Robert H. Buckner, 40 years of age, an engineer on the Seaboard Air Line
Railway, was instantly killed when knocked from train No. 16, about three 
miles out of Suffolk, at about 8 o’clock yesterday morning.  According to the 
story ofthe crew of the train, there was no eye witness to the tragedy, and 
it is only by inference that the details of the affair can be pieced together.

   According to Henry Mason, colored, who was Buckner’s fireman, shortly after 
leaving Suffolk for Portsmouth, the engineer placed Mason at the throttle and 
went back on the tender.  Mason continued the trip towards Portsmouth in the 
cab, and after the lapse of considerable time, thought it unusual that the 
engineer did not return.  He stopped the train and started to investigate.  No 
trace of the engineer was found on the train, so it was backed toward Suffolk, 
a sharp lookout being kept on both sides of the track as it returned in search 
of the missing engineer.

BODY DISCOVERED 

   The watchers finally came upon the body of Buckner lying under the overhead 
crossing of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad near Suffolk.  His head was 
crushed and life was extinct.  From these facts it would appear that Buckner 
failed to notice the bridge in time, and was swept from the tender as his 
train passed under.

   The body was taken to Suffolk, where it was viewed by Dr. Riddick, county 
coroner, and Dr. Yates, coroner of Suffolk, neither of whom deemed an inquest 
necessary.  After being cared for by a Suffolk undertaker the body was brought 
to Portsmouth and carried to the funeral apartments of Flynn & O’Conner, at 
Court and South Streets.  The body was met by a delegation of railway men and 
Elks.

   Mr. Buckner’s home was at the Gloucester apartments, 107 Middle Street.  He 
is survived by his widow, who was formerly Miss Enez James, of Crewe, Va, and 
a son, Robert H. Buckner, Jr., a brother of Montvale and a sister of Lynchburg.

   He had been employed by the Seaboard for about eighteen years, and for the 
past several years had been of the run between Portsmouth and Raleigh.  Prior 
to coming to the Seaboard he had been with the Norfolk and Western Railway.

   The funeral service will take place tomorrow.  Burial will be made in Oak
Grove Cemetery.


Robert H. BUCKNER, Sr., RR engineer, 
d. 26 Jul 1921, Seaboard RR, Nansemond Co., age 40, 
interred in Portlock Cemetery*, Oak Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth, 
donated obit, newspaper unknown 

*Portsmouth City VAGenWeb Archives, Portlock list: 
   http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/portsmouth/cemeteries/portlock1.html 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/b256r1ob.txt