Death of John Theodore Coakley

The railroad bridge over the Columbia River was an exciting event for the city of Vancouver. The construction brought workers to the area which was good for the merchants in town. However, it would lead to the tragic death of John Theodore Coakley.

Columbia River Railroad Bridge from Wikipedia.org

The bridge was built by the Portland and Seattle Railway over the Columbia river between Vancouver and Portland. The construction began in January 1906 and the first train crossed the span on October 23, 1908.

Caisson IX Ready to Launch Sep 18 1906

Construction of Columbia River RR Bridge at Vancouver 1906-1908

John was a "sand hog" who worked in the caissons. The caissons are filled with compressed air and the sand hog moved mud and rock from the work space to a water filled pit, connected by a tube to the surface. Even today this is a dangerous job. In 1906 if a worker left the compressed atmosphere of the caisson and rapidly reentered normal conditions they could be paralyzed. Doctors didn't know what caused the paralysis and if not treated it could lead to death. This is what happened to John on September 9, 1906 he passed away after six hours of suffering at the age of 40 years and 4 months.

John's Death Certificate

John's family was living in Kansas City, Kansas at the time. When news of his death reached them, his wife, Rosina  Shaumeyer Coakley and three of his children, probably Anna, John, and Margaret,

traveled to Vancouver for his funeral.

Obituary from the Vancouver Columbian, September 20, 1906

He was buried in St. James Acre cemetery on September 16, 1906. The compressed air workers union erected the monument on his grave and his fellow railway bridge workers took up a collection for the family.

Tombstone of John Theodore Coakley

After John's death his wife Rose and their seven living children had a difficult time making ends meet. Anna Josephine was 14, John Leonard was 13, Margaret was 8, Frank Thomas was 6, Catherine Rose was 4, Thomas Theodore was 2, and Florence Marie was 7 months.

Instead of moving to the Pacific Northwest where their father had been working and planning on living the family remained in Kansas City, Kansas. Rose and the family lived near her parents, George Christian and Rosina Schrade Shaumeyer, at 375 S Boeke. Anna and Rosina helped care for the younger children while Rose worked for the railroad in Kansas City. Less than two years later on May, 24, 1908 tragedy struck the family again; Anna and Thomas were drowned in a flash flood in Brimson, Grundy County, Missouri.

When Rosina's health deteriorated she was no longer able to care for the children. In 1910 Frank, Catherine and Margaret were living in St. Vincent's Orphanage in Levenworth, Kansas. John quit school shortly after his father's death and went to work to help support the family.

Sources

1. Death certificate #513 of John Coakley obtained from Clark County, Washington County Courthouse. 
2. Microfilm of Vancouver Columbian Weekly newspaper, Feb 1, 1905 to Sec 26, 1907 borrowed on interlibrary loan from the Washington State Library.
3. Article on Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge 9.6 on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington_Northern_Railroad_Bridge_9.6
4. Burial record from St. James Acre cemetery obtained by member of Clark County Genealogy Society and Library.
5. 1910 US Federal Census, Microfilm T624, roll 444, enumeration district 82 sheet 7 b, enumeration of residents at St. Vincent Orphanage. 
6. 1909 City Directory of Kansas City, City Directories of the United States, microfilm 048135 at the Library of Congress, page 67.