One of the most terrible accidents that has occurred in this county in years was that happening yesterday afternoon (January 1895) at Robard’s Station, to I. J. EAKINS, by which he lost his life.

          Mr. EAKINS is a member of one of the oldest families in the county and was well known.  He had come to the city yesterday to transact business for several persons of Robards, as well as some for himself.  He visited two or three of the banks, and having gotten through with all that was required, put in his time on the streets conversing with his friends, of whom he had many.  Shortly before the hours for the regular 2:15 L & N passenger train he went to the depot and anxiously awaited her coming, knowing as he did that the trains had been considerably delayed of late.  She came on time and Mr. EAKINS got aboard.  Being but twelve miles out and the train, a fast one, he had hardly more than taken his seat, so to speak, when the whistle blew for his station.  He was engaged in conversation with Mr. Solomon OBERDORFER, of this city, at the time and was seemingly in no hurry to get off.  The train started on slowly and with this Mr. EAKINS jumped up and, in a hurry, as passengers frequently do, stepped off with his back to the engine.  He held to the guard rail, walking backwardly while the train was slowly moving, till it was too late and too dangerous to let go.  All of a sudden, and as a natural consequence, he was thrown to the ground and under the wheels of the coach.  The poor fellow tried to extricate himself but his effort was of no avail.  Both legs were cut off about the knees or so badly mutilated that they might as well have been.

          Local surgeons were called and the railroad authorities immediately notified Superintendent DIXON at Howell, telegraphed road surgeon, Dr. James H. LETCHER, of this city, and held the Providence train a half hour for him.  Dr. LETCHER arrived at Robards at 3:00 but found the wounded man too far gone to be benefited by medical or surgical assistance.  He died at 7:00.

          His death cast a gloom over the entire station.  Mr. EAKINS was a clever man and had a host of friends at Robards.  A wife and two children survive him.

          In a later news release, Polly EAKINS sued the L & N Railroad for carelessness and was awarded $15,000.  Evidently a motion for a new trial was in the making, and if this would be overruled, an appeal would be taken to the Supreme Court on the grounds of excessive damages.

          Notes:  Isaiah EAKINS was married to Mary “Polly” ALLMAN and was a brother to Enoch Marian EAKINS, of Robards, KY.  Isaiah and Enoch were two children of Enoch George EAKINS and Harriet Minerva Sandefur FORD.  Enoch George EAKINS was the son of George and Sara Melton EAKINS, George being the son of Joseph and Isabella Walkup EAKINS.  George and his three brothers, Thomas, Samuel and John, all came into Kentucky in the early 1800s. 

BACK
Contributed by Netta Mullin, HCH&GS
Copyright 2002 HCH&GS