Will N. Conner generally known as “Doc,” was knocked from a freight train at Browning about 10 o’clock Tuesday night and received injuries from which he died about 3 o’clock Wednesday morning. He was conscious up to the time of his death, and told those at his side where he lived, his name, etc.
Conner had been traveling over the country repairing gasoline stoves, he told those who assisted him after the accident, he was beating his way on a freight train from Beardstown to Camp Point, where his sister lives. There is what is known as a pusher, a locomotive that assists trains up the grade at Browning, and when this was bumped into the train it knocked him off the car and he fell under the wheels. He was found immediately, some of the crew witnessed the accident, and was taken to the town hall in Browning.
He was badly cut up, the wheels of the train passing over his arm and leg, completely severing them from the body, his body was also mashed in a horrible manner. The accident occurred about 1 o’clock but Conner lived until three o’clock Wednesday morning, conscious all the time until he died. He described the accident and told who he was and where he was going. Conner was for many years a resident of Macomb, attending the local schools and afterwards working in the office of the Macomb Eagle and in the different potteries. He was an itinerant photographer, following that occupation considerably. His wife died a few years ago leaving two children, Bert, who lives with his aunt, Mrs. Etta Newman of Camp Point and Edith, who lives with her uncle, Charles Conner of near Adair.
He was about 40 years of age and was a son of George W. Conner now deceased. The news was telegraphed to his brother, Charles Conner, and he was on his way to Springfield to the fair when he received the message telling of his brother’s death, and he went to Browning Tuesday evening, returning with the remains Wednesday morning. Funeral services were conducted by Presbyterian minister, the Rev. H. J. Reynolds, of Macomb, at the Mound M. E. church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The body was interred in the cemetery at that place.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus