William H. Reilly, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
William H. Reilly
Struck By A Passenger Train.
Daily Vidette:
Sunday evening shortly after eight o'clock the people living in the vicinity of Mechanic street near the Ft. Wayne crossing was startled by a horse running wild on the sidewalk. On investigation it was found that the horse only a moment before was driven by a young man whose lifeless corpse was lying on the railroad bank. The young man was William H. Riley, deputy recorder of Cook county, Ill. Saturday evening came down to visit friends and call on Miss Mary Johnson, with whom he has kept company for over a year. Sunday morning he was joined by his friend James McAleenan, of Chicago, and with several friends of this city went to Flint Lake and spent a very happy day. As it was growing dark they started for home. Mr. Reilly and his friend Mr. McAleenan drove the Johnson ladies home and on returning Mr. Bryan Johnson, the father of the young ladies, rode over to town with Mr. McAleenan. They drove one carriage and came ahead, Mr. Reilly following with the other carriage. Mr. Johnson came over the crossing safely and shouted to Mr. Reilly to stay back, but this, it seems, was impossible to do, as the horse became unmanageable and rushed right on the track. The horse got across but the buggy was on the track when engine struck it. It threw poor Reilly out and as was testified to at the coroner's inquest, some 30 feet in the air and smashed the buggy into splinters. Mr. Johnson not hearing anything and supposing that Mr. Reilly had stopped, drove up to Morgan's livery stable, when shortly afterwards the unpleasant news reached him.
As soon as possible the coroner was notified and an inquest held. John Vantrees, and employee of the gas works, was the only one who saw the accident, and testified that the train was running through the city at the rate of 50 miles an hour and when it struck the young man it threw him forward and up into the air as near as ne could judge, 30 feet high; others as to the rate of speed not being under 40 miles. Several who were near remarked at the time that the train was behind time and was running at a very high rate of speed.
Willie Reilly, as he was familiarly known, was 27 years old. He leaves a father, mother, 10 brothers and sisters. His untimely death was caused by no fault of his as he was a very temperate young man and at the time of his death was perfectly sober as is well known by all his associates who were with him all day. His remains were taken to Undertaker Noel's place and in the morning were conveyed by the hearse to the train, and were accompanied to Chicago by his cousin Peter Reilly, of Fort Wayne, and several in Valparaiso.
Newspaper: The Tribune
Date of Publication: September 9, 1886
Volume Number: 3
Issue Number: 23
Page: 1
Column(s): 7
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook