(From the Protection Post)
Roscoe Zane, 38 years old, was instantly killed when the car in which he was riding was struck by a motor train on a grade crossing at Oskaloosa, Iowa, about 6:50 a.m. last Saturday.George Halliburton, driver of the car, was killed also.
The tragedy occurred only a few days after Roscoe had gone to Oskaloosa to visit his sister-in-law, Mrs. S. B. Zane.
The crossing on which the two were killed was obscured partly by an orchard, and the motor train, coasting down a steep grade, gave no warning, according to Glen Minor, from whose home they had just left and who was still standing in the yard of his home, a block away.
The impact of the collision apparently threw Roscoe clear of the car, for his body and the front seat were found about 20 feet away.
Examination showed that his neck was broken and his right leg was broken in two places. He suffered several severe lacerations and bruises at the base of the skull, too.
The body of the Halliburton boy, which was pinned in the car and was rolled and carried 185 yards, was badly mutilated.
The tragedy happened within 100 yards of Mrs. Zane's home, and when she heard the crash, she looked out of a window to see the car, which belonged to her, a tangled mass of wreckage, and saw the train crew and others attracted by the collision place her brother-in-law and young Halliburton, her nephew, on stretchers and carry them to the train, which backed into the city.
Mrs. Zane immediately got into communication with Dr. Lamkin, in Protection, a brother-in-law of Roscoe.
Roscoe's body, accompanied by Mrs. Zane, arrived at Bucklin over the Rock Island, late Sunday, and was taken directly to the home of his mother, Mrs. Ella Zane, who lives north of Protection, where the funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday. Burial was in the family lot in Ashland cemetery.
J. H. Lynch, pastor of the Christian church, officiated at the funeral.
A color guard and a firing squad from the local American legion post fired a salute at the grave. Ben E. Schmoker sounded taps on the bugle.
Legionnaires taking part in the ceremony were: Ray Backman, T. F. Cagle, Harry Vincent, Adrian Chambers, J. W. Leeper, Emory Newton, Alva Parkinson, Bill Brubaker, Dr. W. G. Ramey, J. A. Weede, C. E. Winn, Leo Bramwell and A. C., Kirk.
Pallbearers were Bert Fox, Roy Fox, and Claude Lucas, of Ashland, and C. E. Winn, Leo Bramwell and A. C. Kirk, of Protection.
Funeral and burial services for the Halliburton boy were held in Oskaloosa Tuesday.
Obituary Roscoe Harve Zane, son of Benajah and Ella Zane was born at Lexington, Kan., April 26, 1893, and met his untimely death near the home of the late S. B. Zane at Oskaloosa, Iowa, at 6:50 a.m., March 5, at the age of 38 years, 10 months and eight days.
He had left home only a few days prior to his death for a visit with relatives near that point in Iowa.
With the exception of a short time in the California oil fields and his services in the army during the World War, his life was spent in the community where he was born.
He enlisted in Co. E., 353rd Infantry, 89th Division, on Sept. 17, 1917. After a few months in training he was sent overseas, where he spent more than a year in France and in the army of occupation following the signing of the armistice. He was engaged in two of the major battles of the war, St. Mihiel and Argonne forest. In one of these battles he was wounded and he was in a hospital for some time.
He was passed and shell shocked in his service, as well, having spent 100 days in the trenches. Through all this he served his country willingly and fought for the freedom of the open seas.
On June 18, 1919, he was honorably discharged after which he returned to his home near Protection, where he had been engaged with his brother in farming.
His father and older brother, S. B. Zane, preceded him in death.
Those surviving him are his mother, Mrs. Ella Zane, two sisters, Mrs. Icy Carter and Mrs. Mary Lamkin of Protection; four brothers, T. C. Zane, of Coldwater, M. K., Ben F., and Ralph Zane of Protection, besides several nieces and nephews, who with his many friends will miss him greatly.
The news of his untimely death was a great shock to his family and his friends.
PROTECTION'S HONOR ROLL, The Protection Post, March 27, 1919 .
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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