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SAU&G brakeman William Burleson
SAU&G brakeman William Burleson was killed in a railroad accident on July 5, 1918 at 8:45 PM at the railroad yards in Pleasanton. He was climbing down from a moving box car when he slipped and fell between the cars. He was killed instantly as successive cars rolled over him, His watch stopped when the accident happened. The head end crew were unaware of the incident. A local boy, looking for Mr. Burleson, in order to pick up two water melons ordered from Mathis found his mutilated body as he walked along the tracks behind the train.

Burleson was only 27. He had been an SAU&G employee for some time but had only recently become a brakeman. He was survived by his wife and two young children. He had a brother in Big Wells and a sister in Carrizo Springs. He was buried in Crystal City.

The picture and two newspaper clippings from 1918 were generously donated by his great grand daughter, Ginny Cantu.

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