| Notes |
- Alvin Kelso, 18, Killed In Tolono
Wabash Passenger Train Causes Death Of Youth Working On Track
Tolono, Ill., Aug. 20. – Alvin Kelso, 18 years old, was killed here this morning by Wabash passenger train No.51 while he was working on the right of way. He had been here only three weeks and employed by the railroad company that length of time. His father was working with him when the accident occurred.
Young Kelso and his father came to Tolono from Iowa. His step-brother, James Weemer is section foreman and was in charge of the crew of workmen.
The men were working on the tracks, about 200 yards west of the Wabash depot. It is not known how the young man happened to be killed, but it is supposed that he did not see or hear the train approaching him. His head was cut, and one of his legs broken. He did not die immediately, but was unable to survive the shock.
Coroner Swearingen of Champaign was notified and came to Tolono to hold an inquest.
The Champaign Daily News, Champaign, Illinois. Monday, 20 August 1917.
[4]
- Section Man Meets Death
Tolono, Illinois, Aug. 20. – John Kelso, one of the section hands here, died this morning an hour after being run over by train No.51 when it pulled in on the Wabash tracks, where he was working at 9:30. Both limbs and one hip were broken, and a large gash cut in his forehead. Kelso came here with his father from near Homer only a short time ago. No arrangements have been made for the funeral.
A large number of the section men were busy on the tracks a quarter of a mile west of the depot. Not hearing the approaching cars, Kelso stepped in front of the engine just as it was within a few feet of him. He was given surgical attention at once by Drs. Martin and Mallory, and it was planned to take him on the local freight to the Decatur hospital, but he died before the trip was begun.
The coroner was notified and will hold an inquest.
The funeral arrangements have not been completed.
The Champaign Daily Gazette, Champaign, Illinois. Monday, 20 August 1917.
[4]
- Jury Hold Engineer Negligent At Tolono
Coroner’s Investigation Return Verdict in Death of John A. Smith Kelso.
The coroner’s jury which investigated the death of John A. Smith Kelso, who was killed by an engine on the Wabash railroad at Tolono on Monday, returned a verdict declaring the engineer negligent. Following is the verdict: “We, the jury, find the engineer negligent in the performance of his duty in not giving the proper warning nor in keeping a proper lookout within the yard limits of the village of Tolono.” The jury was composed of W.A. Perkins, J.W. Laughlin, Guy E. Duell, G.F. Mahan, C.A. Mallory and A.C. Perkins.
Kelso was a section hand on the Wabash. His brother-in-law was foreman of the crew and his father was working with him. His father was compelled to jump from the tracks to save himself. No criminal action is expected to follow the jury’s verdict.
The Champaign Daily News, Champaign, Illinois. Wednesday, 22 August 1917.
[4]
- Young Man Is Killed
John Kelso Struck by Wabash Train Monday Morning
John Kelso, who recently moved from near Homer with his father, was killed while working on the Wabash section here on Monday. Kelso, with several other of the section men, was working a short distance west of the depot, and when No.51 approached he failed to hear the train and stepped directly in front of it. He was thrown from the track with both legs broken and a large gash in his forehead. Drs. Martin and Mallory were immediately summoned to the freight house, where the injured man had been carried, but were unable to save him and he died within an hour after being struck.
A coroner’s inquest was held at the undertaking parlors of Heins & Creamer Wednesday morning and the verdict of the jury was that the deceased came to his death by being struck by engine No.177, pulling Wabash train No.51 and “we further find that the engineer was negligent in the performance of his duty in not giving the proper lookout within the yard limits of the village of Tolono.”
The jury was composed of W.A. Perkins, foreman, J.W. Laughlin, G.E. Duell, George E. Mecham, and A.C. Perkins.
The remains ot the dead youth were taken to Homer on Tuesday afternoon, and the funeral services were held at a church east of that place and interment took place at a cemetery in that vicinity.
Tolono Weekly Herald, Tolono, Illinois. Friday, 24 August 1917.
[4, 5]
- Mrs. G.W. Ziegler, 607 North State street went to Tolono yesterday to attend the inquest and funeral of her step-brother, John Kelso who was killed on Monday.
The Champaign Daily News, Champaign, Illinois. Wednesday, 22 August 1917.
[4]
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1899 - 1917 (18 years)
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