New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-28
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

HORRIBLE AccDENT-A Lady Crushed L
Death al The Pontchdrtrdm Railroad Depot
About FIVE o'clock on Sunday evening
last there happened one OF the most
fearful accidents which our reporters
have been called on to record for many
day. Mr.. and Mrs. E. r. Knight, resid
ing at 232 Baronne street, left their home
about half past four o'clock with the in
tention of taking the five O'Clock train at
the depot of the Poncbartrain railroad fol
trip to the lake. They arrived at the de.
pot inst as the train was moving off, and
not wishing to be disappointed in their con.
templated pleasure, very unwisely under.
took to get on the moving train. In thus
attempting to do so, Mrs. Knight missed
her footing and fell between the car and
the depot platform, which it will be re,
membered is about three or four feet high
and requires considerable descent to enter
car while standing on the platform. As
Mrs. Knight fell the moving car caught
her, and with the motion of a cylinder kept
her turning round and round in a space
scarcely foot, crushing her in such hor-
rible manner as to cause instant death.
Her ribs and arms were fractured. and her
body completely smashed. Mr.. Knight in
attempting to resone her (Mr. X. standing
on the car platform) fell between the cars,
one OF his legs being badly crushed, which
it is feared will have to be amputated.
No blame is attached to any Of the rail
road employees.
Mrs. Knight was a lady of about twenty
six years of age, and was the mother OF
five interesting and bright children, whose
piteous walls were almost heart-rending,
Mr.. Knight, if he survives his injuries, will
have cause to mourn the loss of most eX
emplary wife, torn from him in the prime
of life and under circumstances we'll caleu-
lated to cause gloom 10 hang over his re-
naming years.
Coroner Roche held an inquest on the
deceased on Sunday evening, and the
following was the evidence taken before
the jury
Statement ofBen X. Hyatt-Was standing
on the platform, talking with Mr.. Anderson,
when saw Mrs. Knight trying to get on
the cars while in motion; think it was about
the last car. | saw some person holding
their hand out, trying to assist the lady
since killed to get on the train. ! saw her
slip and fall. l tried to assist her, with the
L II e.. 20 cot fro
the car, but before we could succeed in
lifting her on the platform she was caught
between the body Of the car and the plat
form. AS soon as the car passed Mr.. An
derson and myself jumped down and raised
her up on the platform. | do not know
whether the cars start before five O'Clock
or not. do not attach any blame to any
person or persons connected with the rail-
read.
Andrew Anderson stated that at the time
of the occurrence the train was in motion.
Mrs. Knight in trying to get on the train
slipped and fell of and rolled between the
platform and car. Witness with the assist
ance of some others endeavOred to eXtricate
her, but did not succeed until the train had
ceased moving. Mr.. Knight also endeav-
ored to help her, and in SO doing had his
leg badly crushed. do not attach any
blame to any person connected with the
railroad.
The verdict of the jury was in accord
ance with the facts above stated.
This sad accident should be a warning
not to endeavor to get on train while in
motion, as serious accidents are always
liable TO occur. At best, the platform Of
the Pontchartrain railroad depot is very
awkwardly arranged, and is not built in a
manner to accommodate passengers. 1t is
about two feet too high, and it requires no
ordinary skill to enter the cars when stand
ing still, and therefore 1t will be conceded
as being extremely dangerous to attempt
to board a moving train. Some remedy
should be found for this oversight, or it is
feared more accidents OF the same sort will
take place. 1t has long been decided by
railroad men that a depot built for the
shipment of freight can not in safety. be
used fer passengers, and that passenger
depot is not adapted for loading and I'M
loading freight. Separate tracks shonld
always be used and different sized plat
forms, to avoid accidents and unnecessary