Samuel Lewis (Louis) Martin

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Obituary- Martin, Lewis

A Frightful Accident.
Little die Lewis Martin think a few weeks ago when he assisted the Workmen to bury Peter Shearer, that he would be the next one that would require the services of the lodge. But, alas! for the uncertainties of life! Only a few moments before a man in the full possession of all his faculties, strong and healthy, and then without warning hurled into eternity. Thus it was with Lewis Martin, when he was riding from Topeka Tuesday evening, in a wagon driving rapidly along the railroad, near Menoken, coming home, and when crossing the railroad a mile west of that place, he was struck by a Union Pacific train known as the Plug which was about 6:40 in the evening. It is supposed that Mr. Martin did not hear the approaching train, as he had a heavy wool cap pulled down over his ears. The wagon was mashed to pieces but the horses were uninjured. Parties on the train, after it was stopped, identified the body, where it had been thrown on the pilot of the locomotive, horribly mutilated, and it was brought to Rossville without removing it from its position.

Drs. Pratt and Amis examined the body before the dead man was removed to his residence and it was found that the following injuries were sustained: left shoulder broken, right leg dislocated and fractured, six ribs on right side broken, internal injuries on right side, right shoulder broken, right arm broken in three places, skull crushed, neck dislocated.

The body was literally mashed into a pulp, and it was impossible to remove it from the engine without appliances.

G.P. Pierce was appointed deputy coroner, and commenced to hold an inquest in the depot building, but a telegram from Coroner Westerfield postponed further inquiry until Wednesday morning, when the Coronor and the trainmen and other witnesses arrived at 1 p.m., and the inquest continued, and the facts as stated above, were brought out, and no blame was attached to trainmen.

Lewis Martin was born in Germany 48 years ago, and has been running a meat market in Rossville over twenty years, and at the time of his death of his death was in business with his son-in-law, Frank Grubbs. He leaves a wife and ten children to mourn his loss, and a large circle of friends who are depressed and deeply grieved at Lewis Martin's sudden and tragic death.

The funeral services were held this (Thursday) afternoon in Workman hall, conducted by Father Kokenge. The Workmen then took charge of the remains and buried their brother according to the rites of the order.

[From The Rossville Times, Thursday, January 19, 1899]