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Death Summons Again

The gloom was thrown over our town Thursday by the announcement of the sudden death of Mr. O.R. Dascomb, who with his family, has resided here in the very centre of town for many years past and who was well known and a familiar figure to all our people.

The deceased had suffered a stroke of paralysis several months ago but had never given up and had kept at his post with indomitable grit as janitor of the Fireman's Hall, although recently not feeling so well, until the very last. Only the day before his death he was about his duties as usual. He retired at 8 o'clock Wednesday evening and about ten P.M. called his wife and told her he was feeling very sick. From that time on he became rapidly worse and was a very sick man indeed until unconsciousness supervened at about 2:30 Thursday morning and death came to his relief a half hour later.

Mr. Orlando R. Dascomb was a native of New York and was 60 years and 1 month old at the time of his death. He was by trade a locomotive engineer and followed this line of work for many years, both in the East and in California, until poor health compelled him to give it up. Mr. Robert Cowan of this place was a fellow workman of Mr. Dascomb when the latter was a crack engineer in the passenger service on the Burlington road in Iowa, Mr. Cowan being a fireman on the same road. Later Engineer Dascomb served several years in the employ of the Southern Pacific Co. on different roads in this state.

Mr. Dascomb was also a G.A.R. veteran having served in the rebellion and had been drawing a pension for many years. He had resided in California over 20 years, and in this place 14 years, having moved here from Santa Cruz. Besides his surviving wife and daughter here, he leaves a son residing in Portland, Oregon, and a daughter living in Iowa, the latter being children of a former wife, deceased before Mr. Dascomb came to California.

The deceased was a kind husband and father and faithful, painstaking and exact in all his efforts. His familiar figure will be seen no more upon our streets or in the vicinity of the Fireman's hall and he will be missed by many of our people for many days to come. His sorely bereaved wife and daughter have the sincere sympathy of all in their great affliction.

The funeral took place Friday forenoon, and the services being held at the home and the Rev. Atkinson of the Presbyterian Church officiating. The remains were then taken to the 11:20 train and thence to Santa Cruz where the interment took place in the I.O.O.F.. cemetery shortly after mid-day. W.H. Dool had charge of the funeral and the pallbearers were Supervisor Jacob Hartman, A.H. Stagg, Isaiah Hartman, Peter Morris, I.T. Bloom and W.R. Dow. Among the wealth of flowers sent in by neighbors and friends were two beautiful floral pieces from Companion Court Wildwood, I.O.O.F. and Idlewild Rebekah Lodge, I.O.O.F of which the wife and daughter are members.

Date of Birth: 1845-03-01

Date of Death: 1905-30-03

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Santa Cruz Memorial Park

Plot: H75

Mortuary: W&S

Cause of Death: Strk/Related

Occupation: RR/Engineer

Religion: Pr

Height: 5'7

Complexion: Lt

Eye Color: Bl

Hair Color: Dk

Last City: Boulder Creek

Native of: NY

Enlisted: 1861/12/10

Discharged: 1863/04/29

Military Unit: NY_ 78 Inf_ Co E

Rank: Cpl

Military Notes: E-Hmbrg_ DbD Phldpha_ PA

GAR#: W32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: MtE 1905/04/01