Combs - Emory
EMORY COMBS
Source: Weekly Argus News, Dec 9, 1899 p 3
On Saturday evening in the Monon yards at Bloomington, Emory Combs, a freight brakeman and son of Mrs. Lewis Barnes, of this city, was struck by a switch engine sustaining injuries that resulted in his death early Sunday morning. The train reached Bloomington, the end of the run about 9 o'clock Saturday night and the crew was side tracking it preparatory to quitting work. Combs had just uncoupled the caboose and stepped out to signal his engineer. As he did so a switch engine with a car or two came backing down on the same track. It was without a brakeman or signal lights and came so noiselessly that Emory did not hear it. Just as he started to signal the edge of the car struck his face knowing him over against his own train. The force of the blow caused him to rebound and an involuntary roll sent him under the wheels of the switch train. His left shoulder and arm were terribly mashed and he also sustained severe injuries about his face and left side. His calls for help wer eheard and he was quickly taken where medical assistance could be rendered but it proved of no avail and he breathed his last about 5:30 o'clock in the morning. A telegram had been sent his mother and she went down on the night train accompanied by her son, Avery Barns (sic) a half brother of the deceased. He was alive and conscious when they arrived but lived only a short time thereafter. THe remains were brought here Sunday and taken to his mother's rooms in the Miller block where friends can view them up to noon Tuesday. The funeral will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Christian Church, Dr. Tharp officiating. It will be under the auspices of the Odd Fellow and Moose lodges to which he belonged. The burial will take place at Oak Hill. The deceased was 31 years of age and raise din this city. He was sober and industrious and a man of many fine traits of character one of them being an unselfish devotion for his mother. He was accustomed when passing through with a minute to spare to run up to the house for a few words of greeting. He visited her a few minutes Saturday afternoon as he passed through with his train bidding her good bye and telling her could not get back until the 15th inst. He carried $1800 insurance in Ben Hur and $1200 in a railroad company, both policies being made payable to his mother. Conductor Stanley and his fellow employees of the Monon speak of him in highest terms and deeply deplore his untimely death - Daily, Dec 2. - kbz