Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-12-11
Killed by a Train.-It is on

painful duty to record another instance
of mans instability in this ~eventful
life. On Tuesday oflast week, at about
9:30 o'clock, A. NJ. Thomas Wallace
aged about II years, attempted to
board the construction train Of the W.
Y. r. r. upon which he was working
as water carrier. While the train was
passing at a rapid rate at the depot
near this point, having laid hold ofthe
ladder attached to the Caboose Car, he
lost his foothold, and slipped; snowy
ice covering the platform at the time,
and was dragged some distance, to
near the south end of the depot, where
having lost his hold, he fell from the
platform, to the track, a wheel passing
over the tee of his right foot, and hav-
ing acquired "a like motion with the
train, he was violently thrown longer
tudanly upon the inner rail of the
track, and under the hind wheels OF
the caboose car, one wheel passing
~diagonally across his forehead ana COM
pletely crushing in the skull, and scat
tering the poor fellows brains within
the track, while the other wheel pass
ed in the same direction across his
body, breaking his shoulder blade, dis
locating his arms, forcing his ribs to
part, so as to become a mass of bone
and jelly. The spinal columns was in
three places crushed too such an ex-
tent that three internal wounds could
be seen upon his back besides the tract
uring Of one lee below the knee, and
one arm above the elbow. All this
happened near mid day, within sight
of his comrads. And why? Because
of the lack of caution. The poor fell
low when picked up and conveyed to
the residence of Mr.. Burk, near by,
presented a most heart sickening ap-
p~earance, which was more intensified
by the presence OF, and sobs of poor
Toms Father whose warm Irish heart
could not control his pent-up feelings,
when called to witness the disrobing of
his idosized son The boys father is
much respected. And when the by
ISLANDERS met his gaze of yearning for
sympathy as it seemed to flow from his
very soul, strong men bowed and
strong hearts flowed with sad but ST.
lent emotion so sudden was his over
whelming misfortune.
The remains of the unfortunate lad
were removed to Iowa from this place.
and placed in the grave of his deceased
mother who died in that state some
time ago.
Great credit is due to DR.. P. Steb-
bing, for the manner in which he res
pended to the demands of the sufferer
He repaired to the spot the instant he
heard of the sad news, and With kindly
acts and words of sympathy gave con-
ISOLATION to the bereaved father-and
set to work in a most skillful and sur
geon like manner, (assisted by that
able good man DIR. ?. Hurry, who had
then arrived,) in the tenderest way,
accomplishing a most difficult task of
restoring the distorted and blood, feat
ures of the lad, ceasing their
labors only when the mangled mass of
humanity was restored so near as could
be to its natural condition.
1t is difficult to conceive how, in
the face Of such accidents daily report
ed some persons can be found who will
venture life and limb in ~endeayorino
to board trains while in motion; it is
a dangerous practice at any time, but
duoly so at a season like this, when no
person Is sure of his footing, and this
accident should be a caution to all men
on this or any other road, and if tempt
ed to jump on a ear while moving
fast or slow, remember the fate that
befell poor Tommy Wallace. J. F.