Will J Allen

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Obituary- Allen, Will 1

The Story of Will Allen’s Death.
The following account of W.J. Allen’s death—addressed to Dr. and Mrs. Gabbey, by their daughter, Mrs. R.W. Gutshall of Pueblo, Col. Under date of November 22nd—will be read with deep, but somber interest by very many who knew and highly esteemed “Will,” as he was familiarly called hereabout:
“If you received the telegram sent you, telling you about Will’s death, you are expecting a letter from me explaining the cause. I want to write to you, yet I do not feel as if I can sit still long enough to do so. It was so horrible to me that I believe I shall never get over it. Reuben came home in the night, unexpectedly to me, and told me the sad news as soon as he stepped into the room. It scared me nearly to death. Will went out Sunday evening to El Mora, at 6 o’clock, when he was killed. He was sitting on top of a box car, near the center of a train loaded with coal, when a wheel broke on the second car ahead of him. From some cause neither that car nor the one Will was on turned over. If he had not jumped it is probable he would have escaped injury. There were 14 cars all piled up together. All the railroad men say it is the worst looking wreck they ever saw. Some think Will was not killed instantly, but I am positive he was. All sorts of stories are afloat. You can hear anything. The rear brakeman was two cars back of Will. He says he feels sure he saw Will jump and try to reach the bank, and that he slid back under the falling car, as the bank sloped toward the track. He was at the bottom of the whole wreck. They worked with two wreck trains and a large force of men till Tuesday afternoon about three o’clock before they found him. His neck was broken; also his legs and both feet. His chest was crushed and there was a large hole in the back of his head. His face was natural, and was not cut. He looked like life to me, though there were a few dim red spots on his face, where the coal had lain on it. They brought his body to the undertaker, Mr. Sweeney, who said it was the worst mangled corpse he ever saw, there being hardly one whole bone. The rear brakeman was severely hurt in the back and hips. **They built a track around the wreck. As fast as they got the pieces of cars out they burnt them, saving only the iron. Will had his switch keys in his pocket and the chain fastened to his suspenders, just as he used to wear them. He had $3.60 in money in his pocket. He had on his fur cap, and though it was much torn it was, no doubt, the [illegible]. Reuben went down to the wreck and worked until they found him. In his pocket were Albert’s last letter to him and a letter from his brother, George, who lives near his parents. To him a dispatch was sent. Reuben ordered his body embalmed, and told the undertaker he would be responsible for the expense. The undertaker said he could keep him until we heard from his folks—two weeks if necessary. I wrote an ‘immediate delivery’ letter yesterday, addressed to Ben Allen of [illegible- Kiro?], asking if they wanted Will’s body sent home. Reuben or Abe intended to go with it, but yesterday afternoon a message came from the chief surgeon of the D. & R. G. directing that his body be taken to Denver by last night’s train. From this we infer that his brother, Ben, is coming to that city to take the remains home. Abe went up intending to wait until Ben arrived. I packed all Will’s things in his valice and Abe took them with him. I will write his folks in a few days and tell them where his trunk is. I kept his pencil and book of rules. He wrote his name in it on my last birthday. Yesterday was pay day. Will has a month and half’s pay coming to him, but no one but an administrator can draw it. Reuben said in all the letters they looked at his brothers and sisters and friends begged him to come home. His sister said if his mother knew he was running on the road she would be worried to death. On the 13th inst. Will wrote a letter to a friend of his, in which he said he was going back to Kansas about ‘holiday’ time, where he would remain until next fall and then go home. We did not like to look at his letters, but it was the only way we could find out anything about his folks. I pity his poor mother. She is old, and will never get over such a shock. Will asked me to write to her if he were killed, but I did not think I would have it to do so soon. My greatest regret is that he did not go home with Albert. Reuben and I censure ourselves somewhat, on account of our having encouraged him to go on the road. It was a terrible thing, and makes me fear all the more for Reuben. The accident occured [sic] within a mile of where Dug was killed and but a little way from where Glare met his death. Will had lots of friends here, for so short an acquaintance, and they all felt bad over his death. They were very kind, and offered their assistance in anything they could do. Reuben liked Will, and felt sad over his death. Will, when found, was lying with his face upward. The coal was piled on him. It looked to me as if he was struck in the back part of his head and killed instantly.”

[From the Rossville Times, Friday, November 30, 1888]