TAMPICO TORNADO
Dec. 3, 1909

WAS KILLED IN BAD WRECK

R. P. Foy Formerly of Tampico Meets Instant Death in Freight Wreck in Colorado.

Raymond P. FOY, a former resident of Tampico and a member of a pioneer family of this vicinity, was killed instantly last week Wednesday, about 5:15 o'clock in the morning in a freight wreck near Edson, Colorado, while in charge as conductor on the Union Pacific Railway.

The remains accompanied by Mrs. FOY and children, also W. P. ABBOTT representing the Order Railway Conductors, and Mr. and Mrs. E. W. BATEMAN  representing the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and Ladies of the Maccabees, arrived here Monday morning and were taken to the deceased's sister, Mrs. E. A. EMMONS where they reposed until the funeral services held the same afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church. Rev. James POTTER officiated. A quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. Jack HELLIER, Mrs. F. F. BUREN and E. W. MEREDITH rendered several selections. There were a number of pretty floral tributes. The pall bearers were six nepehws, Fred, Will, Walter, Ralph, Clark and Earl FOY. Interment was in the Tampico Cemetery.

The wreck that cost Mr. FOY his life occurred on a bad curve, near the end of a tunnel where his train had stopped on account of having broken in two. Mr. FOY, his engineer and two brakemen were in the caboose and Mr. FOY was getting a log chain to couple the cars together, a draw bar having pulled out. Without any warning whatever another train crashed  into the rear of the caboose demolishing it completely and wrecking three freight cars in front of the caboose. Mr. FOY was pinned in the wreckage and was dead when removed by the crew. The other men in the caboose were all injured quite badly but not fatally. Conductor FOY's arm was broken, his abdomen crushed, and his face and head bruised and crushed. It is the opinion of the railroad men that he met death instantly. Fire followed the wreck and the cboose ******* wrecked ****** entirely. ********************** along with some of Mr. FOY's insurance and private papers. The fire was so intense that the track was warped all out of shape and traffic delayed for some time.

According to Mr. ABBOTT and BATEMAN who accompanied the remains from Colorado to Tampico and who are boyth railroad men, the wreck could not have been due to conductor FOY as he was considered  one of the most careful railroad men on the entire division and had been on the road  some eighteen years. It is supposed that the engineer on the train that crashed into FOY's train was asleep when he passed Edson and failed to notice that the automatic block signal was at danger indicating that there was a train  just ahead in the same block and he could not see the rear lights in FOY's train on account of the curve until he was within about a block of the train when it was too close to get stopped.

After the wreck the body of Mr. FOY was taken to Laramie. Mrs. FOY and son lived near Denver on a small faarm. His had intended to make but two more trips and then quit railroading and go on a farm.

R. P. FOY was born in Tampico township March 14, 1863 and lived here until he was 21 years old when he went to Kansas with his parents. He was married June 5, 1886 to Miss Jennie KELLEY. Two children were born to this union. Mrs. Angie CAIN of Denver, and Chas. who lives at home. Mr. FOY has been i the railroad service for eighteen years on the Union Pacific being promoted to the position of conductor on account of his ability and attention to business. He leaves to mourn his death, a wife, to children, Angie and Chas., a mother, Mrs. Daniel FOY of this place, four brothers, Milton, Wesley, Morrell and Austin all of this place, four sisters, Mrs. Jennie McKENZIE of Por*is, Kansas, Mrs. Sarah BURDICK of Alma, Nebraska, Mrs. Eva RENSLOW, and Mrs. E. E. EMMONS of this place. All were present at the funeral except the sister living in Kansas.

Mr. FOY was a member of the O. R. C. and the B. of R. T. and these two orders did all in their power to assist the family in their bereavement. He held insurance to amount of $3,500 in the above orders. He was one of the most trusted railroad employees of the Union Pacific and was a gentleman who was loved and respected by his fellow trainmen and all good people where ever he was known. It would be hard to find a man who was better to his family and his fellow railroad men say that he was one of the best men they ever knew and a good, careful railroad employee. Hosts of friends not only in his western home but also here grieve with the relatives over  his loss.