Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1908 — TRAIN KILLS JOHN ROACH [ARTICLE]

TRAIN KILLS JOHN ROACH

Brakeman on Freight Suffers Death on His Own Train, His Body Being Horribly Mangled. Rensselaer Republican. John Roach, of Reynolds, a Monon brakeman, was killed by the south bound local freight this Tuesday afternoon at a few minutes before 2 o’clock, his body being horribly mangled. Roach was a brakeman on the local freight, and as the train was pulling down the track he climbed up between a coal car and a box car at at the crossing by the depot. Abel Grant, the express wagon driver, was standing by his wagon at the depot and saw Roach fall. He seemed to have caught his spot some way in the rigging of the car, and he was thrown directly between the two cars. Mr. Grant saw the wheels pass over one of his legs and saw that he was dragged along underneath the car and that the wheels were mangling the body. The train was making so much noise that it could not be told whether ro not Roach called out, but persons who were on the depot platform did call,but the engine was well down the track and the engineer’s attention could not be attracted. In a few seconds the three cars that were behind the place where he had fallen had passed over the body and left the unfortunate victim lying in a heap in the middle of the track, some three car lengths from where he had fallen. He tried to raise up and several people ran to his aid, but they found that his body was cut into many pieces. He was conscious and asked if there was any chance for him, and then asked to have a priest called. Agent Beam called Father Thomas Meyer, who hastened to the scene. Roach continued to breathe for probably ten minutes, and then passed away. One foot was cut off the other leg torn off at the knee, and then the wheels had passed over both legs near the body. Both arms had been rim over and both hands were crushed, but the head and the vital organs of the body were not touched. Small parts of the body, bits of flesh and bone were picked up for a distance of sixty feet. While he was conscious for a short time he was apparently suffering no pain, the shock being sufficient to benumb his feelings. He was a well known young rail-

road man, being single and having lived for many years with his parents at Reynolds. For some months he had been a freight conductor and he had been back on the brakeman list since the slump in business. The remains of Johnnie Roach, the young brakeman who lost his life here Tuesday, were taken to the undertaking 1 rooms of W. Jr Wright that afternoon and there dressed as well as could be, and at 10:65 o’clock today, Wednesday, were taken to his home at Reynolds. As soon as the news of his death reached Reynolds there was great sorrowing there, the many relatives and life long friends of the young man taking his death very hard. On the evening train his brother, Michael Roach, who Is also a brakeman and who also lives with his parents at Reynolds, came to Rensselaer accompanied by Jacob Dieter, John V. Britton and Michael Britton, of Reynolds, and Ed Halpln, of Lafayette, a half brother of Roach. They made plans for the return of the body, and returned to Reynolds and this morning came here again on the milk train, and accompanied the remains home at 10:55. { From all accounts Johnnie Roach was a model young man, having no bad habits, being the main support of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Roach, and being extremely popular both at his home and dn railroad circles. He was a member of the Order of Railway Conductors and of the Knights of Columbus. Roach and his half brother, Ed Halpln, who is a traveling man, are Joint owners of a quarter section of good land near Allda, Ind., and It 1b said he was planning to quit rail-* roading within a year or such a matter and move to the farm. His father and mother, one brother and three sisters, and two half brothers survive. The funeral Is to be held from the St. Joseph Catholic church at Reynolds Friday morning and Interment will be made In the Catholic cemetery at that place. Roach was 32 years of age on January 26th.