This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: LOWE, JOHNSON Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zMB.2ACI/890 Message Board Post: Iron County Register Newspaper, Ironton, Missouri, March 9, 1882, Page 5. Died--Near Harviell, Mo., on Saturday, Feb. 18, 1882, WM. Y. LOWE, aged 21 years and two days. The circumstances attending the death of the above were peculiarly sad. He had been working as a section hand on the railroad between Harviell and Poplar Bluff. When high water made the track insecure, men were detailed to watch the dangerous places and he had taken his regular turn Thursday night. He worked all next day as usual and Friday evening volunteered to go out again on guard duty. For fear that sleep might overcome the overtaxed men, two were stationed at each post. One Chas. Johnson was placed with Lowe, and they walked about and were alright until after the sole remaining train (No. 2) was due--10:30 o'clock. Then they sat down on the ties--all else was covered with water--to talk away the--as they supposed--few unexpired minutes of their watch. But No. 2 was six hours behind them, and long before it came both men had given away to tired nature and were fast asleep. It is supposed--for just how it occurred is not known--that Lowe fell backward across the ! track, while Johnson fell outward and so escaped. Lowe's head was severed from his body, and the latter was carried some ninety feet before released from the murderous wheels of the locomotive. The remains were taken to Harviell, and J. E. Lowe, Esq., father of the deceased, telegraphed for. He went down and took charge of the body, which was interred at Belleview on Sunday. "I am only posting the obituaries and am not researching these families. -- Marcine Lohman"