The Burlingame Enterprise, Thursday, Feb. 19, 1903, Pg. 5

Vol. VIII, No. 20

FATAL ACCIDENT.

______

Major H. Dubois Hurt While Crossing the

Railroad near His Home, Friday,

Death Follows.

Harrison Dubois, one of the well known residents of this community, met with a sad and most peculiar accident last Friday evening which resulted in his death Sunday morning. About seven o’clock he started from his home to that of C. T. Beale on the Mrs. Newman place to visit at the bedside of his friend, D. W. Buchanan. He was muffled with cap and coat and carried a lantern. He had just crossed the railroad track, a few rods from his home, and was struck by the engine of a through eastbound freight. A second sooner he would have been struck by the engine, and doubtless, instantly killed, but having just crossed the track he was hit by the heavy beam which runs across the front of the engine or the steam chest at the side. He was thrown about fifteen feet. His clothes were badly torn and the force of the blow broke two ribs on the left side, bruised his arm and his body was scratched in many places. Though partially unconscious his calls for help were heard by Mr. and Mrs. Parker and son of Fostoria who were passing. They sent to Mr. Beales’ for help who assisted him home. His injuries were most painful and from the first it was difficult to ascertain as to internal injuries. The lung cavity was penetrated, however, and early Sunday morning he became unconscious and remained so until his death at ten o’clock.

Harrison Dubois was born in Franklin county, Indiana, July 18, 1832. He was the third of a family of four children. The other three, Rhoda Ogden of Martinsburg, Iowa, Elmira Koermer of Bath, Indiana and Newton Dubois of Peoria, Indiana are still living. He was married three times. In 1862 to Victoria Tisdale. In 1871 to Mary Brown and in 1885 to Mrs. Mina Miller, who with two sons, Hal, aged fifteen and Kenneth aged thirteen still survive him.

Major Dubois, as he was familiarly known, enlisted here with Co. I of the 11th Kansas Cavalry. He was promoted to be captain in the Second U. S. infantry of colored troops serving on the Texas coast. He was later brevetted a major for meritorious service. He was an Odd Fellow for nearly a half century, being a charter member of the local lodge. In matters of education he was always active, was director of the school board of this place for thirteen years. He was a teacher of the Bible class in the Presbyterian Sunday school for many years.

Thus from a life of activity was taken this man who will be missed as much, perhaps, as any citizen in Burlingame. The following was truthfully said by a neighbor and friend of more than forty years’ standing: “Harrison Dubois, in all his business transactions, was scrupulously honest. His ideas of right deprived him of all selfishness. He was a philanthropist in the true sense of the term, and was a friend to everything that had an uplift to humanity. We know of no man who had spent more nights at the bedside of the sick of this community than Harrison Dubois. To sum up in a few words, his life was full of kindness and good works. His last act of life was on a mission of comfort to the sick.”

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Presbyterian church. The Grand Army and lodge of Odd Fellows attended the services, the latter order conducting the burial service. Beautiful flowers were sent by friends, the Ladies’ Club, Relief Corps, teachers, Sunday School and schoolmates and a floral emblem, a broken circle, was contributed by the remaining members of Company I of the 11th Kansas. “Taps” have been sounded for another comrade. Harrison Dubois has pitched his last tent and awaits “reveille” on the morning of Eternity.