The instant and decisive end of Russell's Sam Long

This fine tombstone in the Russell Cemetery belongs to Sam Long, only 29 when he died in the line of duty on the 13th day of July, 1908, near Leavenworth, Kansas. Sam was a locomotive engineer, at the time a highly respected profession, equivalent to that of airline pilot when I was a kid.

The Chariton Leader of July 16 reported his death as follows:

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The report of a shocking accident, which occurred near Leavenworth, Kansas, early Monday morning, reaches Chariton, in which Sam Long loses his life. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Long, of Russell, and a nephew of Mrs. C.F. Noble, of this city, is 29 years of age and leaves a wife and three small children, his wife formerly being Miss Bernice Cole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Syl Cole, who also reside at Russell.

For several years Mr. Long resided in Chariton, belonging to one of the train crews running from here to St. Joseph, but several months since he was promoted to locomotive engineer and was running on the K.C. road from St. Joseph at Leavenworth, with headquarters at St. Joseph. About 7:00 o'clock a.m., so the report which reaches here says, he was nearing Leavenworth when he leaned out of the cab window to look forward, when some object struck him on the head, killing him instantly.

A bridge was being built and there was scaffolding over the track and it is believed that some timber must have been left in the way, thus causing the fatal accident.

His remains were taken to Russell on Tuesday evening for interment.

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As the report indicates, Sam was survived by his wife, Bernice, and three young children --- Howard, Harry and Beryle.

Three years after Sam was killed, Bernice married Charles F. Jagger, a railroad fireman and the divorced father of two daughters, on July 26, 1911. They had six children of their own.

Charles and Bernice lived in Lucas County until 1942, when they moved to Denver, Colorado, where he died during 1944. Berniece died in Denver on Feb. 27, 1948. The remains of both were returned to Russell for burial.

 Peggy Walters shared this image of Sam's portrait surrounded by funeral flowers via Ancestry.com during 2015.