Robert Leslie Ervin

ERVIN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 9/20/2018 at 09:27:36

9 March 1916 - West Branch Times

Death resulting from a terrible accident has claimed the life of another young man, well known in this community and a former resident here, Robert Leslie Ervin, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Ervin, from injuries received last Friday at a mine near Chariton, when a car of coal passed over him and severed both legs from his body.

A nearly as the men who reached Leslie first can tell, and according to his own statement, he was fixing the coupling on the car loaded with coal and must have stumbled or caught his foot on a cable which was used to draw the loaded cars from the scales, and was thrown across the track. Those near the scene of the accident rushed to his aid and with his father, who is top foreman, administered first aid treatment. A special train was secured and the boy rushed to Des Moines as speedily as possible, but death came just as the train reached East Des Moines, and the effort to save his life was in vain.

The body was taken to Oskaloosa and the funeral was held Monday afternoon at the home of his aunt, Miss Rebecca Ervin.

Robert Leslie Ervin was 18 years, 5 months and 22 days old at the day of his death. He had just completed a course of study in automobile repair work at Highland Park College of Des Moines last spring and was assisting his father at the Chariton mines in order to obtain a certain amount of experience and mechanical knowledge.

Those who were present at the mine at the time of the accident, say that Leslie was conscious after the injury, and told his father in detail the story. He was a young man, who loved his home and parents, and following the tragedy asked the father not to tell the mother of the accident, for she would be worried.

Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Ervin, he leaves one sister, Elizabeth Ervin, and numerous other relatives to mourn their loss. Relatives from here attending the funeral were J. T. and N. C. Butler and Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Corbin.