Skip to content ↓

View entry

Back to search results

Name: FUTTER, Robert

Birth Date: 1863 Horsham St Faith's, Norfolk

Death Date: 4.12.1890 Mombasa, railway accident

Nationality: British

First Date: 1889

Last Date: 1890

Profession: Head fitter for projected narrow gauge railway, from Railway Point to Mazeras, when first locomotive assembled at Mombasa

Area: Mombasa

Married: no

Book Reference: Hobley, EAHB 1905, North, IBEA, EAHB 1906, EAHB 1904, Intelligencer, Mills Railway

General Information:

Hobley - Futter was rather proud of his achievement, and successfully drove it (the locomotive) up the steep incline to the plateau. When he approached my embankment he conceived the rash idea of rushing across it; it was, of course, soft and unsettled, and consequently gave way, the engine turning a complete somersault. The wretched Futter was picked up with his back badly damaged, and he died a few days later - 4/12/1890
North - From Norfolk; constructing steam crane at English Point Mombasa 31-7-1890; died 4-12-1890 Mombasa from injuries sustained a few days earlier when an embankment collapsed under a construction train, buried at Kisauni
Intelligencer - Journal of Rev H.K. Binns - 2nd Dec 1890 - Burt came down, dined with me; is much more hopeful of the work at Railway Point. There has been a railway accident already; engine upset and Futter the driver broke his leg. 4th Dec 1890 - Got letter from Sir Francis [de Winton], 8pm to say Futter mentioned above was dead.
EAHB 1905 - IBEA Co. General Africa Staff - appointed 18th December 1889, died 4th December 1890
Mills Railway - The one locomotive on the line, 'Taveta' sister to 'Mombasa' on the Island Trolley system, was involved in a fatal accident on 25 November. The loco had been assembled by Robert Futter, who took it out on a trial run. The weight was too much for an unconsolidated  bank on the hillside above Macupa Creek. The track gave way and Taveta capsized. Futter was apparently thrown clear but hurt his back and was taken to hospital, where his injury made good progress but "fever supervened" and he died on 4 December.
Nat Probate Calendar says he was a bachelor
FindaGrave Robert Futter BIRTH 1863 Horsham District, West Sussex, England DEATH 4 Dec 1890 (aged 26–27) Mombasa, Kenya BURIAL Kisauni Cemetery Mombasa. [Notes IBEA Co
Head fitter for projected narrow gauge railway, from Railway Point to Mazeras. After assembling a new engine it was taken for a trial run on 25 November. At one point the embankment gave way and the engine oveturned. Futter was thrown clear but sustained a broken leg/back injuries and died in hospital several days later.]

Back to search results