CRICH PARISH

Plot B16

Erected by the workmen at the Duke's Quarries Whatstandwell as a token of respect and sympathy In loving memory of ROBERT ALSOP WASS who was accidentally killed on the Midland Railway at Whatstandwell December 9 1895 aged 55 years

In the midst of life we are in death

also SUSANNAH wife of the above died 16th August 1910 aged 69 years

at rest.

His deathwas reported in the local press.

Derby Mercury 10 December 189 5
KILLED ON THE RAILWAY AT WHATSTANDWELL
On Monday Robert Wass, foreman for Mr Sims, stonemason, Whatstandwell, was crossing the line when the three o'clock train from Manchester was passing.Being an elderley man, he could not get out of the way before the train caught him. He was knoocked down and killed. The deceased has a grown-up family, and was was respected in the vicinity.

Derby Mercury 18 December 1895
Mr W.H. WHISTON, County coroner, held an inquest at the Derwent Hotel, Whatstandwell, on Tuesday afternoon, on the body of Robert Allsop WASS, foreman, in the employ of Mr SIMS, stone merchant, who met with a terrible death on the Midland Railway at Whatstandwell the previous day.
[there followed a long report of the inquest findings with witnesses Samuel WASS (son of the deceased), and Daniel PETTS (stonemason of Crich Carr). The deceased was killed crossing from one wharf to another near the old railway station when he was hit by a train coming from Cromford. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and exonerated the engine driver from all blame.]