In The Baggage Coach Ahead by G.L. Davis This song was written in 1896 by Gussie L. Davis, the first successful Negro composer. Davis was a porter on the train where the incident actually occurred. In the 1920s, long after the song had become popular, newspapers carried the story of the death in Kansas city of a Mrs. Nettie Klapmeyer, who was the baby of the actual journey. Davis also wrote such country classics as "The Fatal Wedding" and "We Sat Beneath The Maple On The Hill." In The Baggage Coach Ahead On a dark stormy night as the train rattled on All the passengers had gone to bed Except one young man with a babe in his arms Who sat there with a bowed-down head. The innocent one began crying just then As though its poor heart would break One angry man said, "Make that child stop its noise For it's keeping all of us awake." "Put it out," said another, "don't keep it in here We've paid for our berths and want rest" But never a word said the man with the child As he fondled it close to his breast. "Where is its mother? Go take it to her" This a lady then softly said "I wish I could" was the man's sad reply "But she's dead in the coach ahead." While the train rolled onward, a husband sat in tears Thinking of the happiness of just a few short years For baby's face brings pictures of a cherished hope that's dead But baby's cries can't waken her in the baggage coach ahead.