(The Rock Island Argus - Feb. 5, 1891)
Conductor James M. Palmer, of the Cable branch of the R. I. & P. road, met with a shocking fate at Cable last evening at 6:30 while engaged in the performance of his duty. He had made his regular runs to Rock Island during the day in charge of the combination passenger, mail and freight; pulled by his long time associate, Engineer Keeley, and at 6:30 was engaged in making up his train for return to Rock Island this morning when the accident occurred. He was in the act of making a coupling when he caught his foot in a frog and fell under the cars, the wheels passing diagonally across his legs, severing one below the knee and the other above the knee. As soon as possible the train was stopped and the unfortunate conductor taken from under the wheels. The upper portion of the body escaped injury but the lower limbs were fearfully mangled, and the sufferer did not speak after being extricated, and died from the shock in five minutes.
Conductor Palmer's first railroading was on the old Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis road, and in 1876 he entered the employment of the R. I. & P. as freight conductor on the main line. On the construction of the Cable branch eight months later, the same year, he was transferred there and placed in charge of the construction train. On its completion he was given the principal train and has held the position since. So that he was the oldest conductor on this branch of the R. I. & P. system; in fact the first conductor on the line, and as one of the officials of the road said this morning, one of the most faithful and trustworthy men on the entire road, a man whose place would be hard to fill and whose death was a loss to the company. In Rock Island where he enjoyed a large acquaintance and had as many friends as any railroad man coming into the city, the news of his fate has caused general expressions of grief and regret.
Conductor Palmer was 42 years of age leaves a wife who is a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Renfro, of this city, and one child.
Conductor Stephens is in charge of the ill-fated conductor's train today.
The inquest was held at Cable today and the remains were brought to Rock Island at 3:30 this afternoon, the funeral car being draped in black. The body was taken to Mrs. E. Renfrow's house on Thirteenth street.
(The Rock Island Argus - Feb. 9, 1891)
The funeral of the late Conductor J. M. Palmer was held from the residence of Mrs. Renfro, 817 Thirteenth street, to the First Baptist church, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The funeral was in charge of the O. R. C., and the pallbearers, S. C. Giford, Tho. Doty, H. J. Horn, Jno. Lake, W. O. Hitchcock and B. F. Baughman were of that order. The remains were taken to the Baptist church where the ceremonies were solemn and impressive. Prayer was offered by Rev. C E. Taylor and the scripture lesson was the 12th verse, 15th chapter of St. Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, read by Rev. Gue. The choir sang, "Go Safe to the Rock," after which Rev. Gue preached a touching and instructive sermon. His text was the last part of the twentieth chapter of the 2nd Kings, "Set thine house in order for thou shall die and not live." He paid a high tribute of respect to the dead, mentioning the high esteem in which he was held by the public, and adding that his place would be hard to fill. He then dwelt for some length up on the uncertainties of life and exhorted those present to prepare for the next world and concluded by exceeding sympathy to the bereaved family. Rev. Taylor again offered prayer. The choir sang "Meet me There," and the solemn ceremonies were at an end. The floral offerings were beautiful and included a broken wheel bearing the letters O.R.C., from the order of railway conductors and gates ajar bearing the inscription, "Our Friend," from the Rock Island & Peoria road employees. After the remains had been viewed by hundreds of sorrowing friends and relatives, they were removed to Chippiannock cemetery, where the interment took place. Rev. Goe and L. L. Burch, C C. of the order of railway conductors, officiating. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather hundreds gathered to pay the last respect to the dead, a great many of whom were railroad men from outside the city.
Conductor James M. Palmer, of the Cable branch of the R. I. & P. road, met with a shocking fate at Cable last evening at 6:30 while engaged in the performance of his duty. He had made his regular runs to Rock Island during the day in charge of the combination passenger, mail and freight; pulled by his long time associate, Engineer Keeley, and at 6:30 was engaged in making up his train for return to Rock Island this morning when the accident occurred. He was in the act of making a coupling when he caught his foot in a frog and fell under the cars, the wheels passing diagonally across his legs, severing one below the knee and the other above the knee. As soon as possible the train was stopped and the unfortunate conductor taken from under the wheels. The upper portion of the body escaped injury but the lower limbs were fearfully mangled, and the sufferer did not speak after being extricated, and died from the shock in five minutes.
Conductor Palmer's first railroading was on the old Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis road, and in 1876 he entered the employment of the R. I. & P. as freight conductor on the main line. On the construction of the Cable branch eight months later, the same year, he was transferred there and placed in charge of the construction train. On its completion he was given the principal train and has held the position since. So that he was the oldest conductor on this branch of the R. I. & P. system; in fact the first conductor on the line, and as one of the officials of the road said this morning, one of the most faithful and trustworthy men on the entire road, a man whose place would be hard to fill and whose death was a loss to the company. In Rock Island where he enjoyed a large acquaintance and had as many friends as any railroad man coming into the city, the news of his fate has caused general expressions of grief and regret.
Conductor Palmer was 42 years of age leaves a wife who is a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Renfro, of this city, and one child.
Conductor Stephens is in charge of the ill-fated conductor's train today.
The inquest was held at Cable today and the remains were brought to Rock Island at 3:30 this afternoon, the funeral car being draped in black. The body was taken to Mrs. E. Renfrow's house on Thirteenth street.
(The Rock Island Argus - Feb. 9, 1891)
The funeral of the late Conductor J. M. Palmer was held from the residence of Mrs. Renfro, 817 Thirteenth street, to the First Baptist church, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The funeral was in charge of the O. R. C., and the pallbearers, S. C. Giford, Tho. Doty, H. J. Horn, Jno. Lake, W. O. Hitchcock and B. F. Baughman were of that order. The remains were taken to the Baptist church where the ceremonies were solemn and impressive. Prayer was offered by Rev. C E. Taylor and the scripture lesson was the 12th verse, 15th chapter of St. Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, read by Rev. Gue. The choir sang, "Go Safe to the Rock," after which Rev. Gue preached a touching and instructive sermon. His text was the last part of the twentieth chapter of the 2nd Kings, "Set thine house in order for thou shall die and not live." He paid a high tribute of respect to the dead, mentioning the high esteem in which he was held by the public, and adding that his place would be hard to fill. He then dwelt for some length up on the uncertainties of life and exhorted those present to prepare for the next world and concluded by exceeding sympathy to the bereaved family. Rev. Taylor again offered prayer. The choir sang "Meet me There," and the solemn ceremonies were at an end. The floral offerings were beautiful and included a broken wheel bearing the letters O.R.C., from the order of railway conductors and gates ajar bearing the inscription, "Our Friend," from the Rock Island & Peoria road employees. After the remains had been viewed by hundreds of sorrowing friends and relatives, they were removed to Chippiannock cemetery, where the interment took place. Rev. Goe and L. L. Burch, C C. of the order of railway conductors, officiating. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather hundreds gathered to pay the last respect to the dead, a great many of whom were railroad men from outside the city.
(The Rock Island Argus - Feb. 5, 1891)
Conductor James M. Palmer, of the Cable branch of the R. I. & P. road, met with a shocking fate at Cable last evening at 6:30 while engaged in the performance of his duty. He had made his regular runs to Rock Island during the day in charge of the combination passenger, mail and freight; pulled by his long time associate, Engineer Keeley, and at 6:30 was engaged in making up his train for return to Rock Island this morning when the accident occurred. He was in the act of making a coupling when he caught his foot in a frog and fell under the cars, the wheels passing diagonally across his legs, severing one below the knee and the other above the knee. As soon as possible the train was stopped and the unfortunate conductor taken from under the wheels. The upper portion of the body escaped injury but the lower limbs were fearfully mangled, and the sufferer did not speak after being extricated, and died from the shock in five minutes.
Conductor Palmer's first railroading was on the old Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis road, and in 1876 he entered the employment of the R. I. & P. as freight conductor on the main line. On the construction of the Cable branch eight months later, the same year, he was transferred there and placed in charge of the construction train. On its completion he was given the principal train and has held the position since. So that he was the oldest conductor on this branch of the R. I. & P. system; in fact the first conductor on the line, and as one of the officials of the road said this morning, one of the most faithful and trustworthy men on the entire road, a man whose place would be hard to fill and whose death was a loss to the company. In Rock Island where he enjoyed a large acquaintance and had as many friends as any railroad man coming into the city, the news of his fate has caused general expressions of grief and regret.
Conductor Palmer was 42 years of age leaves a wife who is a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Renfro, of this city, and one child.
Conductor Stephens is in charge of the ill-fated conductor's train today.
The inquest was held at Cable today and the remains were brought to Rock Island at 3:30 this afternoon, the funeral car being draped in black. The body was taken to Mrs. E. Renfrow's house on Thirteenth street.
(The Rock Island Argus - Feb. 9, 1891)
The funeral of the late Conductor J. M. Palmer was held from the residence of Mrs. Renfro, 817 Thirteenth street, to the First Baptist church, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The funeral was in charge of the O. R. C., and the pallbearers, S. C. Giford, Tho. Doty, H. J. Horn, Jno. Lake, W. O. Hitchcock and B. F. Baughman were of that order. The remains were taken to the Baptist church where the ceremonies were solemn and impressive. Prayer was offered by Rev. C E. Taylor and the scripture lesson was the 12th verse, 15th chapter of St. Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, read by Rev. Gue. The choir sang, "Go Safe to the Rock," after which Rev. Gue preached a touching and instructive sermon. His text was the last part of the twentieth chapter of the 2nd Kings, "Set thine house in order for thou shall die and not live." He paid a high tribute of respect to the dead, mentioning the high esteem in which he was held by the public, and adding that his place would be hard to fill. He then dwelt for some length up on the uncertainties of life and exhorted those present to prepare for the next world and concluded by exceeding sympathy to the bereaved family. Rev. Taylor again offered prayer. The choir sang "Meet me There," and the solemn ceremonies were at an end. The floral offerings were beautiful and included a broken wheel bearing the letters O.R.C., from the order of railway conductors and gates ajar bearing the inscription, "Our Friend," from the Rock Island & Peoria road employees. After the remains had been viewed by hundreds of sorrowing friends and relatives, they were removed to Chippiannock cemetery, where the interment took place. Rev. Goe and L. L. Burch, C C. of the order of railway conductors, officiating. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather hundreds gathered to pay the last respect to the dead, a great many of whom were railroad men from outside the city.
Conductor James M. Palmer, of the Cable branch of the R. I. & P. road, met with a shocking fate at Cable last evening at 6:30 while engaged in the performance of his duty. He had made his regular runs to Rock Island during the day in charge of the combination passenger, mail and freight; pulled by his long time associate, Engineer Keeley, and at 6:30 was engaged in making up his train for return to Rock Island this morning when the accident occurred. He was in the act of making a coupling when he caught his foot in a frog and fell under the cars, the wheels passing diagonally across his legs, severing one below the knee and the other above the knee. As soon as possible the train was stopped and the unfortunate conductor taken from under the wheels. The upper portion of the body escaped injury but the lower limbs were fearfully mangled, and the sufferer did not speak after being extricated, and died from the shock in five minutes.
Conductor Palmer's first railroading was on the old Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis road, and in 1876 he entered the employment of the R. I. & P. as freight conductor on the main line. On the construction of the Cable branch eight months later, the same year, he was transferred there and placed in charge of the construction train. On its completion he was given the principal train and has held the position since. So that he was the oldest conductor on this branch of the R. I. & P. system; in fact the first conductor on the line, and as one of the officials of the road said this morning, one of the most faithful and trustworthy men on the entire road, a man whose place would be hard to fill and whose death was a loss to the company. In Rock Island where he enjoyed a large acquaintance and had as many friends as any railroad man coming into the city, the news of his fate has caused general expressions of grief and regret.
Conductor Palmer was 42 years of age leaves a wife who is a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Renfro, of this city, and one child.
Conductor Stephens is in charge of the ill-fated conductor's train today.
The inquest was held at Cable today and the remains were brought to Rock Island at 3:30 this afternoon, the funeral car being draped in black. The body was taken to Mrs. E. Renfrow's house on Thirteenth street.
(The Rock Island Argus - Feb. 9, 1891)
The funeral of the late Conductor J. M. Palmer was held from the residence of Mrs. Renfro, 817 Thirteenth street, to the First Baptist church, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The funeral was in charge of the O. R. C., and the pallbearers, S. C. Giford, Tho. Doty, H. J. Horn, Jno. Lake, W. O. Hitchcock and B. F. Baughman were of that order. The remains were taken to the Baptist church where the ceremonies were solemn and impressive. Prayer was offered by Rev. C E. Taylor and the scripture lesson was the 12th verse, 15th chapter of St. Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, read by Rev. Gue. The choir sang, "Go Safe to the Rock," after which Rev. Gue preached a touching and instructive sermon. His text was the last part of the twentieth chapter of the 2nd Kings, "Set thine house in order for thou shall die and not live." He paid a high tribute of respect to the dead, mentioning the high esteem in which he was held by the public, and adding that his place would be hard to fill. He then dwelt for some length up on the uncertainties of life and exhorted those present to prepare for the next world and concluded by exceeding sympathy to the bereaved family. Rev. Taylor again offered prayer. The choir sang "Meet me There," and the solemn ceremonies were at an end. The floral offerings were beautiful and included a broken wheel bearing the letters O.R.C., from the order of railway conductors and gates ajar bearing the inscription, "Our Friend," from the Rock Island & Peoria road employees. After the remains had been viewed by hundreds of sorrowing friends and relatives, they were removed to Chippiannock cemetery, where the interment took place. Rev. Goe and L. L. Burch, C C. of the order of railway conductors, officiating. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather hundreds gathered to pay the last respect to the dead, a great many of whom were railroad men from outside the city.
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