Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1896 — A Sad Accident. [ARTICLE]

A Sad Accident.

Mrs- Rebecca Wood Falls and Breaks Her Neck. A lamentable accident, resulting in a sudden death, occured in Rensselaer about one o’clock Tuesday afternoon., Mrs. Rebecca Wood, who lived in Barkley Township, was coming into town, in a top buggy, driven by her -son Blaine Wood, a boy of about 15 years. As they were passing over the Monon railroad tracks, at the depot, the kingbolt came out just as the hind wheels of tne buggy struck the last rail of the track. This of course allowed the front wheels to draw from under the baggy, and it fell to the ground. Mrs. Wood, who had long been a nearly helpless cripple from rheumatism, fell forward upon her head. 'LI. Mr. Beam the station agent, Jas. Fisher, Monroe Banes and C. E. Tyner, and some others went at once to the unfortunate woman’s assistance. They found her breathing but unconscious. They carried her into the ladies’ waiting room, in the depot, and improvised a bed for her, but within 15 minutes she had expired, without regaining consciousness. Dr. English was telephoned for, but she was dead before he reached her side. He did not make any examination of sufficient thoroughness to determine the exact nature of the injuries that caused her death, but was of the belief that her neck was broken; but the great shock may have caused her death. Squire W. H. Churchill, in the disability of the Coroner, held a brief inquest, after which the body was taken to the residence of a daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Sam Norman, who lives but a block or two from the scene of the accident The deceased was 51,years old, and has long been a resident of Jasper County. Her husband, Samuel Wood, died in Nov. 1895. She was the mother of a largefamily/leavingfive daughters and four sons, nearly all of whom are of adult age. Her oldest son is W. L. Wood, the well known general merchant of Parr. The funeral will be held Friday, at 11 A M. at Brushwood Church, Union tp., conducted bv Rev. J, L. Brady: Interment in Prater cemetery.