At Knight's, the siding two miles south of Decatur, Brakeman John McGonnigle was struck and killed by a Wabash train early Wednesday morning. That statement is made on the theory that there is no other satisfactory explanation of the manner of his death. When found by his fellow trainmen, the young man was dead near the switch where he had last been seen alive.
McGonnigle was the head brakeman in the crew and they were on train 90, north bound. They had orders to head in at Knights and there wait until they had been passed by three trains. Young McGonnigle, after the train had pulled in on the siding, walked ahead to the north switch to be ready to let out his train as soon as the other trains had passed. It was his failure to do that that caused the other members of the crew to walk to the switch near which place they found him dead. His body was lying between the main and the side tracks. Except that he was in some way struck by one of the trains, there seems no way to account for his death.
One theory is that the young man went to sleep while sitting on the end of the ties near the switch awaiting for the trains to pass. Some of the railroad men are slow to accept that theory.... McGonnigle had worked as caller, as messenger and as switch tender and in all capacities had shown such energy and activity that they do not believe that he would go to sleep.
John McGonnigle was about 20 years old. He had been an employe of the Wabash for several years. First he was messenger at the division headquarters, then caller, and in that duty was faithful and energetic. Then he was made a switch tender and held that position for a long time. Little more than a month ago he asked to be transferred to the train service.
The positions of messenger and caller had given him a wide acquaintance among the local officials and employes and with all he was a favorite. He was courteous and attentive to his duties and his disposition was such that he was bound to make friends. There was general and sincere regret expressed yesterday that the young man had met such an untimely death for the general belief had been that one of such energy and attention to duty was certain to win a place that mediocre ability would never attain.
The deceased was the son of John McGonnigle of East Condit street.
The funeral will be Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic church and high mass will be celebrated.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-27-1900
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One of the largest funerals ever held at St. Patrick's Catholic church was that of the late John M. McGonnigle, whose untimely death at Knights on Wednesday is mourned by hundreds of friends. The church was crowded, every seat being taken.
Solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Murphey who also delivered a brief talk, speaking of the high esteem in which the deceased was held by all who knew him and of his excellent qualities of character and promising future. There were large numbers of railroad men present.
The burial was at Calvary cemetery. Fifty carriages followed the remains to the grave.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-29-1900
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
McGonnigle was the head brakeman in the crew and they were on train 90, north bound. They had orders to head in at Knights and there wait until they had been passed by three trains. Young McGonnigle, after the train had pulled in on the siding, walked ahead to the north switch to be ready to let out his train as soon as the other trains had passed. It was his failure to do that that caused the other members of the crew to walk to the switch near which place they found him dead. His body was lying between the main and the side tracks. Except that he was in some way struck by one of the trains, there seems no way to account for his death.
One theory is that the young man went to sleep while sitting on the end of the ties near the switch awaiting for the trains to pass. Some of the railroad men are slow to accept that theory.... McGonnigle had worked as caller, as messenger and as switch tender and in all capacities had shown such energy and activity that they do not believe that he would go to sleep.
John McGonnigle was about 20 years old. He had been an employe of the Wabash for several years. First he was messenger at the division headquarters, then caller, and in that duty was faithful and energetic. Then he was made a switch tender and held that position for a long time. Little more than a month ago he asked to be transferred to the train service.
The positions of messenger and caller had given him a wide acquaintance among the local officials and employes and with all he was a favorite. He was courteous and attentive to his duties and his disposition was such that he was bound to make friends. There was general and sincere regret expressed yesterday that the young man had met such an untimely death for the general belief had been that one of such energy and attention to duty was certain to win a place that mediocre ability would never attain.
The deceased was the son of John McGonnigle of East Condit street.
The funeral will be Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic church and high mass will be celebrated.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-27-1900
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the largest funerals ever held at St. Patrick's Catholic church was that of the late John M. McGonnigle, whose untimely death at Knights on Wednesday is mourned by hundreds of friends. The church was crowded, every seat being taken.
Solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Murphey who also delivered a brief talk, speaking of the high esteem in which the deceased was held by all who knew him and of his excellent qualities of character and promising future. There were large numbers of railroad men present.
The burial was at Calvary cemetery. Fifty carriages followed the remains to the grave.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-29-1900
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Knight's, the siding two miles south of Decatur, Brakeman John McGonnigle was struck and killed by a Wabash train early Wednesday morning. That statement is made on the theory that there is no other satisfactory explanation of the manner of his death. When found by his fellow trainmen, the young man was dead near the switch where he had last been seen alive.
McGonnigle was the head brakeman in the crew and they were on train 90, north bound. They had orders to head in at Knights and there wait until they had been passed by three trains. Young McGonnigle, after the train had pulled in on the siding, walked ahead to the north switch to be ready to let out his train as soon as the other trains had passed. It was his failure to do that that caused the other members of the crew to walk to the switch near which place they found him dead. His body was lying between the main and the side tracks. Except that he was in some way struck by one of the trains, there seems no way to account for his death.
One theory is that the young man went to sleep while sitting on the end of the ties near the switch awaiting for the trains to pass. Some of the railroad men are slow to accept that theory.... McGonnigle had worked as caller, as messenger and as switch tender and in all capacities had shown such energy and activity that they do not believe that he would go to sleep.
John McGonnigle was about 20 years old. He had been an employe of the Wabash for several years. First he was messenger at the division headquarters, then caller, and in that duty was faithful and energetic. Then he was made a switch tender and held that position for a long time. Little more than a month ago he asked to be transferred to the train service.
The positions of messenger and caller had given him a wide acquaintance among the local officials and employes and with all he was a favorite. He was courteous and attentive to his duties and his disposition was such that he was bound to make friends. There was general and sincere regret expressed yesterday that the young man had met such an untimely death for the general belief had been that one of such energy and attention to duty was certain to win a place that mediocre ability would never attain.
The deceased was the son of John McGonnigle of East Condit street.
The funeral will be Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic church and high mass will be celebrated.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-27-1900
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the largest funerals ever held at St. Patrick's Catholic church was that of the late John M. McGonnigle, whose untimely death at Knights on Wednesday is mourned by hundreds of friends. The church was crowded, every seat being taken.
Solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Murphey who also delivered a brief talk, speaking of the high esteem in which the deceased was held by all who knew him and of his excellent qualities of character and promising future. There were large numbers of railroad men present.
The burial was at Calvary cemetery. Fifty carriages followed the remains to the grave.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-29-1900
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
McGonnigle was the head brakeman in the crew and they were on train 90, north bound. They had orders to head in at Knights and there wait until they had been passed by three trains. Young McGonnigle, after the train had pulled in on the siding, walked ahead to the north switch to be ready to let out his train as soon as the other trains had passed. It was his failure to do that that caused the other members of the crew to walk to the switch near which place they found him dead. His body was lying between the main and the side tracks. Except that he was in some way struck by one of the trains, there seems no way to account for his death.
One theory is that the young man went to sleep while sitting on the end of the ties near the switch awaiting for the trains to pass. Some of the railroad men are slow to accept that theory.... McGonnigle had worked as caller, as messenger and as switch tender and in all capacities had shown such energy and activity that they do not believe that he would go to sleep.
John McGonnigle was about 20 years old. He had been an employe of the Wabash for several years. First he was messenger at the division headquarters, then caller, and in that duty was faithful and energetic. Then he was made a switch tender and held that position for a long time. Little more than a month ago he asked to be transferred to the train service.
The positions of messenger and caller had given him a wide acquaintance among the local officials and employes and with all he was a favorite. He was courteous and attentive to his duties and his disposition was such that he was bound to make friends. There was general and sincere regret expressed yesterday that the young man had met such an untimely death for the general belief had been that one of such energy and attention to duty was certain to win a place that mediocre ability would never attain.
The deceased was the son of John McGonnigle of East Condit street.
The funeral will be Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic church and high mass will be celebrated.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-27-1900
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the largest funerals ever held at St. Patrick's Catholic church was that of the late John M. McGonnigle, whose untimely death at Knights on Wednesday is mourned by hundreds of friends. The church was crowded, every seat being taken.
Solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Murphey who also delivered a brief talk, speaking of the high esteem in which the deceased was held by all who knew him and of his excellent qualities of character and promising future. There were large numbers of railroad men present.
The burial was at Calvary cemetery. Fifty carriages followed the remains to the grave.
Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 9-29-1900
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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