Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-09-27
A TERRIBLE SITUATION.
Miraculous Escape from Death-An Insane
Man Attempts 70 jump from Passen.
ger Gar Window Heroic Conduct Of
Hb wife.

Miraculous Escape from Death-An Insane
Man Attempts 70 jump from Passen.
ger Car Nindow-Hersic Conduct Of
lib wife.
Yesterday morning an accident Of a
very unusual nature, and at the same
time particularly horrifying. occurred on
the Allegheny Valley railroad, not a
great distance from the city. The facts
of the case, as narrated to one of our re
porters, are briefly these: The victim a
young married man named John Laugh
ton, had been in the petroleum business
for some months near Oil City Not
long ago he had severe attack of fever,
and on his recovery it became apparent
that his mind was affected. At first he was
not very violent. but with the progress
of time his mental faculties became go
far impaired that be had to be constant
ly watched. Mrs. Laughton correspond
ed with her father-in-law, resident of
Fairview. Vest Virginia, and informed
him of the condition of her husband
The father at once visited Oil City, and
under medical advice it was determined
to remove the unfortunate man to Fair
view for treatment.
On Monday evening the father of Mr.
Laughton, with his unfortunate son, and
accompanied by his daugh,er-in law, LETT
Oil City for Pittsburg en- route for West
Virginia. Mr.. and Mrs. LaugLton, ir rode
in section of a sleeping car, while Mr..
Laughton, ST.. occupied a seat in one of
the forward cars of the train.
The unfortunate man had been very
quiet for several hours after starting. and
at the request of his wife lay down in
the berth and apparently fell asleep
About an hour after retiring, Mrs. Laugh
ton was alarmed at sudden movement
of her husband and on pulling aside the
curtain hanging around the section, saw
! that her husband had raised the car win
dow, and had almost succeeded in drag
ging his body through the opening
When discovered the unfol tunate man
had the upper portion of his body out of
the window, and as he supported his
back on the sill attempted to reach up to
the roof of the car. Mrs. Laughton at
once caught her husband by the legs
and screamed for aid. Strange to say,
of the persons IN the car at the time no
one seemed to comprehend the situation
and, despite the frantic screams of the
woman, it was not until an accident hap
pened that relief came to her aid. While
banging out of the window the unfortu.
nate man would reach up towards the
top of the car, ard obtaining grasp of
some obstacle, would hold it for a mo-
nent until the sudden turnings of a
curve or the jolting of tue car would
cause him to loose his hold. and then he
would fall down, his head dashing against
the side of the car.
For fully ten minutes was Mrs.
Laughton holding her husband before
her terrible condition was discovered, and,
as we have said, this was by accident -
In passing the abutment of bridge not
far from the city the man was caught
and dashed to the ground The train
was stopped at once and Mr.. Laugton
was carried to the car again. He was
so violent then that it took the united
efforts of three men to hold him down.
He was brought to this city yesterday
morning and subsequently conveyed to
the residence of physician, relative
of his, in Allegheny. His injuries,
which are quite serious. are confined to
his arms and shoulders, which are terri.
BILE crushed. His condition last evening
was favorable to his recovery, yet how
he escaped instant death is a mystery
Pttsburg Commercial r..