George Carlos Haskell

  General Notes:

George Carolos Haskell Obituary

Last Saturday morning sad and shocking news came to our village informing relatives and friends that Mr. G. C. Haskell, son of Mr. Ruel Haskell and son-in-law of Mr. C. M. Hathaway of this place, who was yardmaster for the C. H. & D. Railway Company at Deshler had been fatally injured by the cars. General and profound regret was the result, deep-hearted sympathy went out to the families here and everything possible was done to mitigate their sorrow and reconcile them to the heavy cross that had been laid upon them. Inquiry developed the terrible details of the affair, which were that while at work crossing the B. & O. right-of-way which is double-tracked, Mr. Haskell stood on one track waiting for a freight to pass and while doing so was struck by the tender of a locomotive that, coupled to another one, was coming from the opposite direction. He was thrown upon his face, horribly crushed and dragged 219 feed before his screams reached the ears of a woman who from the upper story of her home called the firemens' attention to their awful work. The engines of death were stopped, the victim released and carried to a surgeon's office, where the poor man, who repeatedly groaned for death to come, was treated as skillfully as possible. The left leg had been crushed off at the groin, the lower portion of the right one cut, the left arm torn off at the shoulder joint and the face badly skinned. Besides internal injuries had undoubtedly been sustained. Mr. Haskell remained conscious for some time after being released, sent some messages to his wife and child, who first at his desire did not go in to see him, and coversed a little with his pastor, Rev. Street. Finally Mrs. Haskell approached her husband but recognition upon his part was not apparent, the result doubtless both of weakness and the opiates that had been administered. He expired at 11:20, two hours and five minutes after being injured. His father and brother Dean arrived there before the end came but Mrs. Haskell's parents were unable to do so until after that. A committee from the Ottawa fire department went up on the noon train, rendered what assistance they could and escorted the remains to this place, arriving on the seven o'clock evening train. Funeral services occurred at the Presbyterian church on Monday afternoon and every pew was occupied, the firemen acting as escort and attending as a body. About thirty of them were present. Lovely palms surrounded the pulpit while floral evidences of friendship and sorrow were in profusion, three set pieces being exceptionally beautiful. Those came from the K. of P. lodge and the Fire Department here and from the office and yardmen at Deshler. Rev. Street, pastor of the Deshler church that was attended by Mr. Haskell, delivered a very pleasing, very affecting and impressive address and it elicited highly complimentary comment. Rev. R. W. Edwards and Rev. C. B. Holding also participated in the church service. Upon conclusion of this, interment took place in Pomeroy cemetery. The full name of the deceased was George Carlos Haskell. He was born on a farm in Ottawa township on September 18th, 1875, so reached the age of 25 years, 5 months and 15 days. On October 12, 1898, he was united by marriage to Miss Nelle Hathaway of this village. To the union was born one child, a daughter. Mr. Haskell was a member of the Presbyterian church and a consistent Christian. He was industrious, genial and always satisfactory in his official relations, a dutiful son, a loving and generous husband and father. In the community he was looked upon as a most worthy citizen. To his stricken family and relatives we proffer the most sincere sympathy. In the comment upon this sad event nothing but condemnation is heard against the criminal negligence excercised by the B. & O. firemen who were running the two locomotives referred to, and the Company's liability appears absolutely certain. Three reasons are given for this belief, first, the law does not permit firemen to have entire control of the locomotive; second, no flagman was on the tender to give alarm; third, no whistle was blown or bell rung. It seems that all precaution was cast aside, and if liable under the law the B. & O. Company should be made to pay dearly.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence, 1880, West Leipsic, Liberty Township, Putnam County, Ohio. ⁶⁴

George married Nelle Hathaway, daughter of C. M. Hathaway and Unknown, on 12 Oct 1898. (Nelle Hathaway died after 1927.)