- from a scrapbook at the Linesville Historical Society:
"MET DEATH WHILE ON DUTY.
FUNERAL OF FRED SHATTUCK.
The remains of Fred Shattuck arrived from Kansas yesterday, in care of Mr. Bocken, a fellow railroad man. The funeral was held this afternoon at the home of his sister, Mrs. Ida Stratton, the only surviving member of his family circle. Rev. GA King conducted the services at the house. In funeral cortege were Linesville lodges of Masons, Knights of Pythias, and Maccabees, of which orders, together with Brotherhood of Trainmen, he was a beneficiary member. Deceased was single, and 39 years of age; of genial disposition and respected by all. His taking away in the prime of life the more rends the hearts of his relatives and friends.
The intelligence of his death which was a shock to the community, came by wire Saturday, merely stating that he met death that day. On arrival of Mr. Bocken it was learned that he was on his trip as brakeman on his train which had an excursion party. A freight car having a cupola had been added. He was aiding conductor in collecting tickets and had gone on top of the car where two boys were, who state that he appeared to reach for his hat as it fell off, but as his remains were found below a bridge it is believed that his head came in contact with the overhead work of the bridge - the car being larger and higher than ordinary. A bruise sufficient to cause instant death marked the injury in back of head, while in falling to the creek bed, quite a distance, one leg was broken. The accident happened about 35 miles from Parsons, Kansas.
Deceased grew to manhood in this place; learned the printer's art, clerked in Miller & Stratton's store, and while on a tour of states among the printers' fraternity, branched off to railroading some 15 years ago. Last year he made a trip to the Alaska gold regions, returning early last spring. He suffered a severe illness and on convalescing sufficiently came here and recuperated during the summer, returning to his vocation in September.
How insignificant may seem the duty he was performing which if left undone would have saved his life and not materially affected the great railroad army of systems. In performing that duty honestly and manfully he died none the less a hero than he who falls in the army of battles of his country.
- from the October 22, 1899 issue of the Parsons Daily Sun, Parsons, Kansas:
A SAD DEATH
Brakeman Fred Shattuck, of the "Katy," Killed Yesterday Near Humboldt.
Fred Shattuck Killed.
Fred Shattuck, one of the best known brakeman on the M., K. & T. railroad, was killed near Humboldt yesterday morning. He left this city on a freight train following the excursion train on the Neosho division and just how he met his death seems to be somewhat of a mystery, as several reports were current, but it is generally believed that Shattuck was standing on top of a box car, and in an effort to secure his hat, which it seems had blown off his head, when he was struck by the cross beams of a bridge south of Humboldt and knocked off the train. When picked up he was found to be dead. The news of the accident caused unusual regret, for few employes of the "Katy" were better known or more generally liked that Fred Shattuck.
The death of Shattuck recalls the fact that few men have suffered more than he did the last six months. It has only been a few weeks since he left the "Katy" hospital where his life hung for many weeks by a mere thread, and now that Shattuck was able to once more resume his duties on the road, the sad story of his unfortunate death fills his friends with a sorrow so sincere that his untimely leave taking seems doubly severe.
The remains were taken to Humboldt, where they were prepared for burial. The body arrived in the city last evening on passenger train No. 9 and forwarded on the "Katy Flyer" to the deceased's old home in Pennsylvania, which he left scarcely a month ago to resume his duties on the railroad.
- from the October 25, 1899 issue of the Conneautville Courier:
LINESVILLE.
Our community was shocked on Saturday by a telegram announcing the death, near Parsons, Kansas, on that day, of Fred Shattuck, a Linesville boy, who after recovering from a serious illness here, had gone only four weeks before to resume his duties as brakeman on a Kansas railroad. He was out on a mixed train and had climbed to the roof of a freight car to collect the tickets of some boys, when his head came in contact with the timbers of an overhead bridge, knocking him to the creek bed, twenty-five feet below. The boys did not give any information of the accident and the train ran several miles before he was missed. He was dead when found, with a fracture of the skull and one leg broken. The remains, in charge of a fellow railroad man, reached here Monday and the funeral was held at the home of his sister, Mrs. Ida Stratton, on Tuesday afternoon. He was buried with the honors of the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member. Deceased was 39 years old and unmarried, his sister here being the only surviving member of his family.
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1860 - 1899 (39 years) 
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