The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-05-12

We haye never Deen called upon 10 record
more melancholy accident than that
which occurred yesterday morning at Sui
Ivan, resulting in the death of Prof Miles
j. Fletcher, Superintendent of Public In
struction. Gov. Morton: having chartered
extra trains for the purpose, left Indianapo-
lis on Saturday evening accompanied by
Prof. Fletcher, Adjutant Gen'l. Lac. Noble,
and a small party, together with large
supply of hospital stores, for the sick and
suffering soldiers at Pittsburg Landing, Cor
NTH and vicinity. The party got along
safely and comfortably until they arrived at
Sullivan, where they met with a terrible
accident in the following manner.
A large stock car which had been stand
ing on a side track, some distance from the
main track, during the day-a position it
was in as lateas 10 o'clock Saturday night
was, after that time, removed by some mis-
chievous or designing persons up the switch
to ~Aere 10 J0Invd the nIatn tT00k, running
the forward trucks of the car over several
cross ties of the main track, in which con-
dition 1t was left. In this position the car
became a most formidable obstruction.
About o'clock the extra train came dash
ing along, all on board unsuspicious of
danger. The passengers in the car were
asleep. Gov. Morton and Prof Fletcher
were lying on the same side of the car on q
long seat with their feet together, and their
heads towards each end of the car. Upon
hearing the crash, the Governor sprang to
his feet, and Prof Fletcher, rising to sit
ting posture, Immediately threw up the
window. Before word could be said and
while the Governor was looking at him,
Professor Fletcher put his head out of the
window. A dark object flashed across the
window, and in a moment the head of the
Professor dropped to the base of the VIII
dow. The Governor Immediately took hold
of him and laid him gently down in pre-
ment before. Not a limb quivered or
muscle seemed to move. One or two slight
juggling gasps was all of life that was per-
ceptibIe. The spirit had taken its sudden
and unexpected flight,
The locomotive on striking the cattle car
threw it off the track just far enough to
permit the train to pass, and it was one
corner of the car which struck the Professor,
tearing off one half of the upper portion of
his head, large piece of the skull being
found on the ground some distance from the
car. The obstruction touched the passen-
ger car Ia one point only, making small
dent in one of the panels few inches from
where the head of the Professor was struck
We understand that it was well known at
Sullivan that Gen. Morton and party HerA
vUuIlug gtS-.. ~ ----A sl---t ..i5tr..
Thus has the State lost one of its bright
est ornaments, and society one of its most
genial, affectionate and intelligent members.
None knew Miles J. Fletcher but to love
him. We have been acquainted with him
from boyhood, and we have ever found him
enthusiastic in his undertakings, and warm
hearted in his sympathies. His purpose in
living was to do good.
On former trip to the battle field OF
Shiloh, on hearing it intimated that he ran
no little risk of his life in passing to and
fro through the country on his errands OF
mercy, he replied: 1t matters not when
where, or how we die if We die in the dis
charge of duty"
alt is appointed unto man once to de-
and it not unfrequently happens that Provi-
denee gives obscure intimations to some
that their end is nigh. We learn that Gov.
Morton at first desired Prof. Fle,cber,s
father, Calvin Fletcher, Esq, of Indianapo.
lisa member of the Sanitary Committe.
of that city-to 60 with him and see wba
distribution was made of the goods as
signed by the Commission to his charge
n the afternoon Of Saturday Mr.. Flelche
called on the Governor to inform him tina
hs could not go. But turning to Miles
who accompanied him, be remarked
Here is Miley, You may take him, and