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Name: BAASS, James Rawson

Birth Date: 25.1.1861

Death Date: 20.3.1902 near Fort Ternan

First Date: 1895

Last Date: 1902

Profession: Surveyor. Worked with the Uganda Railway Construction Company but was killed in a trolley accident in 1902 at Fort Ternan

Area: Nairobi, Elmenteita

Married: In Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia 1892 Marian Grace Campbell

Book Reference: Gillett, Permanent Way, North, Playne, Cave, Gazette, Barnes, Mills Railway

School: MICE

General Information:

North - has James Ranson. From Forest Hill, Surrey; UK appt. as District Engineer 11-11-1895; arr. Mombasa from England 13-5-1897; appt. Superintendent of Works for Surveys between Naivasha and Lake Victoria 1898, based Elmenteita 1899; One of eight officials named by the 'Railway Strike Committee' as treating their subordinates with extreme discourtesy and tyranny' (CO573); d. 20-3-1902, near Fort Ternan, when the trolley he was travelling on crashed into a train and he was run over by the engine (he had overruled the Indian signalman who said the line was not safe).  
Playne - Superintending Engineer of Railway during construction. Playne has T.R. Baas
Cave - 1901 - We arrived at Lumbwa railhead at four o'clock. Mr Baas, the engineer, met us and asked if we would like to go on with him for 7 miles farther up the line that was not yet open. ……….. Mr Baas told one of the coolies to run ahead with a red flag to stop the train which was now due. … (Poor Mr Baas took these risks once too often, for he was killed on that piece of line soon after our return to England) ……. Mr Baas gave us dinner in his tent. The tent is made of grass and posts; inside it is very pretty, for the grass is woven in so beautifully, and it is very comfortable. Great big cane chairs and camp-stools, a writing table, dining-table and two sideboards. Outside the tent is a lovely camp fire, round which we all sat.
Gazette - 15/4/1902 - Notice for claims against the Estate of the late J.R. Baas, Esq. Superintending Engineer Uganda Railway, deceased, who died at Fort Ternan on 20th March 1902.
North - 'He was a very harsh man and extremely unpopular among subordinates white and black' (McGregor-Ross, RH)
P.W. - Mr Baas, in charge of the survey parties - 1898.
Mills Railway - J.R. Baass, the engineer in charge of surveys, who retained the post throughout the reconnaissance and staking out of the line.
Mills Railway - 140 - J.R. Baass who had been in charge of the original surveys at the Coast, completed the preliminary line as far as Nairobi in September 1898; he was then promoted Superintending Engineer, Surveys, and accompanied the Chief Engineer to the Lake
Nat Probate Calendar James Ranson [sic] Baass of Oxted, Surrey, d. 20 May 1902 near Nairobi, Uganda
Certficate of Competency, Surveyor - Victoria, Australia, City Directory 1896
Nairobi South cemetery, plot 16
Memorial at Kipkelion: erected by / the Chief Engineer & Officers / of the Uganda Railway / to the memory of / J R Baass M.Inst. C.E. / Superintending Engineer / killed at this spot in a trolly accident / born January 25th 1861 / died March 20th 1902 (This memorial is not in the churchyard but a short distance along the railway line on the opposite side of town from the chuch. Baass is actually buried in Nairobi South Cemetery)
 

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