Person:John Barrett (64)

From the October 7, 1925, edition of the Dubuque (IA) Telegraph Herald

Meets Death Under Wheels Of Wagon

John J. Barrett Killed In Peculiar Accident Tuesday

Chest Is Crushed By The Truck

Driver Falls Attempting to Board Wagon and Frightens Team

John J. Barrett, 49 years old, teamster for Swift and company, was fatally injured late yesterday afternoon when he was boarding his wagon at the Illinois Central station he fell in front of the wheels, frightening the horses and causing them to pull the heavy wagon over him. The accident occurred at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon and Barrett died six hours later at Mercy hospital.

The body has been taken to his residence, 32 Locust street, from where the funeral will be held Friday morning to St. Raphael's Cathedral where the requiem mass will be read at 9 o'clock. Burial will be made in Mount Olivet cemetery.

Barrett, after conducting business in the express company offices at the Illinois Central station, started to board his truck. He was stepping up, using the front wheel for a step, when in some manner he lost his footing and fell forward between the horses and the truck. It is thought that in falling he struck one of the horses and caused the team to spring forward just as he struck the ground. Before he could get away, the heavy wheels of his truck passed over his body, crushing his chest.

Barrett received numerous internal injuries and was rushed to Mercy hospital, where he died at 10 o'clock.

Mr. Barrett was born in Dubuque and lived in this city during his entire lifetime. For the past nine years he had been employed by Swift and company. He was a Catholic and a member of St. Raphael's parish and died comforted by the last rites of his religion. He was also affiliated with the Court of Honor No. 82.

He is survived by his wife and nine children, the youngest only a year old: four daughters, Catherine, Marguerite, Rosetta and Marie; five sons, John, Leo, Martin, Louis and Francis; also two sisters, Mrs. William McCauley of this city and Mrs. Frank McDay of Chicago, and one brother, Tom of Dubuque. A son, William, preceded him in death nine years ago.