grave import

Obituary

Conductor George Wainwright met a tragic death while doing his duty. He was in the first section of the forward sleeping car when the crash came. Pullman Conductor F.S. Carpenter and Mr. Wainwright were sitting together on the first seat, checking up the tickets and making the record of the trip. Without a moment's warning the shock came. and the rear coach was forced into the Pullman car, pinioning the two conductors in their seat and crushing them terribly, death evidently resulting instantly. From another source it is reported that the two men must have been standing up in the drawing room at the time of the accident, and that from the injuries received by both this might be the case. Conductor Wainwright's body, through life had been crushed out instantly, was not badly disfigured, and was easily recognized by his friends. The body was brought to Burlington this morning and it is probable that the funeral services will be arranged for Wednesday. Nearly every one knew George Wainwright. For twenty-three years he run a train on the Cedar Rapids road. He was one of those quiet, big-hearted fellows that made every one like him. He never did a mean thing in his whole long life, and that is sermon enough. Devoted to his family, true to his friends and faithful to his employers, he was the ideal husband the best of companions and the most loyal of employes. If it be true and the world believes it, "that if you are all right here, you'll be all right there" more than ordinary homage will be paid George Wainwright in his spiritual home. Real, honest, sorrow followed the sad news of his death, and strong men, who rarely give way to their emotions, were shocked and appalled by the intelligence. Mr. Wainwright came of a distinguished and wealthy English family. His grandfather was an earl, whose three sons emigrated to America. George's father settled in St. Louis, where the deceased was born in July, 1848. He was engaged for a time with his cousin, Ellis Wainwright, president of the American Brewing association, in business, and was at one time in the grocery business. He began railroading on the B&M railroad as frieght man in 1868, and for a time after that conducted a business in Pittsburg, PA. He entered the employ of the C.B.& Q as a baggageman and was promoted to passenger conductor. He resigned his position there in 1880 to accept a passenger run on the B.,C.R.& N. In 1883 he was married to Miss Mary Sweney of this city. One son was the result of their union, Ellis, who is now 15 years of age. Mr. Wainwright's mother, who resides in Fairfield, arrived this afternoon. The deceased was an Odd Fellow and also a member of the Order of Railway Conductors, and both of these organizations will attend the funeral in a body.

The funeral services over the remains of Conductor George Wainwright were very largely attended. By half-past two o'clock a great many friends of the bereaved family had gathered at the church, and when the funeral procession arrived from the house, shortly before three, the church was filled. The pulpit and the choir loft were beautifully decorated with roses, carnations, smilax and other flowers. The coffin, resting beofre the altar was literally buried in flowers. The floral offerings from the Odd Fellows and the conductors were especially beautiful. Rev. Harry W. Perkins read the services. In his funeral address he dwelt upon Mr. Wainwright's sterling character, his steadfast devotion to duty, his long and honorable service for the railroad company. He spoke also of the many admirable qualities of Mr. Wainwright's personality and paid a fitting tribute to his worth as a man. A quartet, composed of Dr. and Mrs. Loie S. Wilson, Miss Mary Boesch and Mr. Ed Boesch, sang "lead, Kindly Light" and "Rock of Ages" at the church, and at the cemetery they sang the lodge words to the tune of "Nearer My God to Thee." The ceremonies at the grave were conducted according to the ritual of the Odd Fellows. The pall-bearers were for the conductors,P.R. Kelly, J.R. McPartland and Frank Clark; for the Odd Fellows, Theodore Kriechbaum, Geo. W. Stone and Edward Matsch. A special train arrived from Cedar Rapids at noon, bearing a number of the chief officials of the B.C.R.&N. and about 25 other people, mostly employes and their wives. The officials on the train were: Robert Williams, vice president and general superintendent; G.A. Goodell, superintendent; H.F. White, chief engineer and C.S. Weston, train master.