Thomas William Horn (1864-1897)
Thomas William Horn (1864-1897)
1897 Obituary [1]
THOMAS WILLIAM HORN, Jun., eldest son of Mr. Thomas William Horn, Assistant Engineer of the Great Northern Railway, was born on the 21st April, 1864.
He was educated at Barnet Grammar School and by private tutors.
After serving his pupilage under Mr. Richard Johnson, the Chief Engineer of the Great Northern Railway, in the offices of that Company, he was transferred to the staff of the District Engineer at Leeds, where he was engaged in the construction of heavy retaining walls, bridges and other important works, in connection with the widening of the existing lines in Yorkshire.
In January, 1890, Mr. Horn left England for South America, having been appointed District Engineer on the Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway. First on the Tandil section (322 miles), and afterwards, from April, 1891, to 1895, on the Bahia Blanca section (389 miles), he obtained varied experience, and the Chief Engineer certified that the way and works under his care were well and cheaply maintained during the time he had charge of them.
In July, 1895, Mr. Horn returned to England, and after a stay of three months proceeded to India, as District Engineer, in charge of the Nagpur Section of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway.
In March, 1897, he was transferred to the more important section of Chakardharpur. On the 24th April following, his carriage was placed next the engine of a mixed train, and he left Chakardharpur at three o’clock for Asansol Junction. At about a quarter to eight o’clock, it being dark, at a station called Kantadih, he unfortunately attempted to alight on the side on which there was no platform; he fell, and, from some unexplained cause, was caught by a wagon and dragged a distance of 54 yards. He was found, much mutilated, under the ninth wagon, and expired after a few minutes.
His body was brought back to Chakardharpur, a distance of 70 miles, during the night, and he was buried the next afternoon, the Bengal-Nagpur Volunteers, of which corps Mr. Horn was a lieutenant, giving him military honours.
The Agent and Chief Engineer of the Company, Mr. T. R. Wynne, in reporting the sad occurrence, wrote:- 'I valued his services very highly indeed. He was a very able engineer and most enthusiastic in his work. He was very popular with all his brother officers and with the staff, and his death is deeply regretted. The Railway Company have certainly lost a most valuable officer.'
Mr. Horn took a prominent part in all the sports and pastimes organized for the railway staff, and was much liked for his candid and amiable manner.
He was elected an Associate Member on the 2nd February, 1892.