Grayson County TXGenWeb

Denison Daily News
Friday, April 9, 1875
pg. 3

From Thursday's Extra
Railroad Accident
News was brought to the city early this morning that there had be a frightful smashup on the M.K. & T. road.
We have been able to learn the following particulars: The freight train due about 5 o'clock in the morning was ditched about half a mile the other side of Colbert's station, in the Nation, about 4:30 o'clock, caused by the washing away of a culbert.
The locomotive was precipitated a distance of several feet and buried nearly out of sight in the mud. Then followed five freight cars on top of the engine, which are total wrecks.
George Keef, one of the oldest and most careful engineers on the road, was almost instantly killed, and Elif Johnson, the fireman, and Harry Parrott, brakesman, were both badly scalded.

Additional Particulars
An engine was sent down to the wreck and the body of Mr. Keef and the two wounded men were brought this city about 10 o'clock.

The Funeral
Engineer Geo. Keef was a member of Aspinwall Lodge No. 19, A.F. & A.M., New Grenada. He was buried at 4:30 o'clock in the cemetery with Masonic honors. The procession of brethren and friends, who accompanied the remains to their final resting place, was very large. There were twenty-three carrriages in the procession. The services at the grave were conducted by Past Master J.W. Jennings.
Pallbears - M.B. Tallant, William Gamon, A.G. Fowler, Jas. Shaughnessy, John West and Wm. Goode.

George Keef
was born at Kohegan, Maine. Was engaged in railroading at Portland, Maine, before the war. He served in the 4th N.Y. Cavalry; entered the army as a private and advanced to the rank of captain. After the declaration of peace he was engineer on the Aspinwall and Panama Railway. Captain Keef brought the first train into Denison; was formerly member of Division No. 40 of B.L.E., and at his death belonged to Division No. 177 of this city. He was a man of exemplary character, of high moral principles, a true friend, a good citizen, and a useful member of society. He has a brother in Colorado and a sister in Fairfield, Maine.

Mr. Parrot
Dr. J. Dalzel Alexander, who was called in to dress the wounds of Mr. Parrot, the fireman on the M.K. & T. freight train that was thrown from the track Thursday morning, has furnished us with the following particulars of his condition: Mr. Parrot was in the cab at the time of the accident. He was thrown out and fell under the boiler, which bursted and threw boiling water over his person. He was severly scalded over the face, neck, arms and hands; his legs were also scalded from his knees down. The entire cuticle of his arms, hands and legs came off, leaving the flesh exposed. His sufferings have been excruciating from the first, but he has borne up heroically and makes no complaint. The doctor has made local applications and rendered every assistance possible. His condition is very critical, but hopes are entertained for his recovery. He was taken to the Lindell, where he is receiving careful nursing. Mr. Parrot isa member of the Denison Lodge of Odd Fellowship, and receives every attention from his brothers.

Elif Johnson
was also in the cab when the accident occured, sitting on the box. He was thrown from the car and received a slight bruise on the left leg, just above the ankle. He was scalded on the balls of both thumbs, around the right wrist, around the right jaw, and on the right side, just above the hip. Dr. Acheson is attending upon him, and informs us he is doing well, and has every attention that friends can bestow. His injuries are not considered at all dangerous.

J. Lindsey
A brakesman on the train made a narrow escape. He was in the cab and was thrown over two chairs by the concussion, but received no injury whatever.
There was one passenger on the train, Bill Walker, but he was not hurt.
The train consisted of fifteen cars; two were demolished, three others were ditched.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, June 15, 1902

At the Oakwood cemetery there wa sone neglected grave that was not flagged or received a single flower. That was Engineer Geo. Keef's who was killed in a wreck near Colbert about 20 years ago. George was a captain in the Union Army, Maine regiment. He has almost slipped from the memory of even the old timers.