The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-14
Fatal Accident.

which resulted In the death OF Thomas d.
Collins, a car repairer of the company. The
facts ara about as follows. Freight train
No. 20, came 10 from thewest about $50;
two trains came 10 aboutthe same time. One
of the cars on No. 20 train needed repairs.
the bumper being out of order. John
Fassnacht, Patrick Kenney and Thomas
D. Collins were detailed to do the work.
10 order to do the repairing the men had
to get under the car and, as Is the custom,
notified the conductor, VIM. Carson. who
in turn told the engineer and tie train was
cut in two; Carson states that he told the
engineer not to move until he got signal
from him to do so. While the cars were
apart. the men took out the bumper of the
car needing repairs, Fassnacht and Ken
ney being under and at the side of the car
and Collins between the train. When they
got ready to put the bumper back, Collins
took hold Of it to push it back to position.
He was standing with his back to
the other part of the train, with
the bumper pressed against his breast
and had slightly risen, when, without any
warning, the train came together and the
Door fellow was fastened between the
two bumpers. Kennev, who was still un-
der the cars, hearing a shutting sound
quickly turned round and crawled out, and
then saw Collins was crushed close between
the cars and could not move. He held
him until the train was moved and Fass
nacht got to him, and then with the assist
auce of the conductor aud brakeman took
| him out aud carried him to the switch
shanty, from which place he was taker
home on the switch engine.
DR.. Plummer was called and found the
right arm paralyzed; third, fourth, fifth
and sixth ribs broken and comminuted
spicula' being driven into the right lung
The right lung was confused and ruptured
spinal marrow injured, either torn or con
fused; pulse 40 per minute and interm:tt
ing every third or fourth pulsation; res
| piration laborious. He rallied little abou
midnight, but it was oply for few min
utes, and at 1880 this morning he died
| Deceased was married man, about 81
years DID, excellent habits and we'll liked
He leaves a wife bat no children. This
morning a sister, from Council Bluffs, in
tending te visit him, arrived only to learr
of his sad death Her grief when she saw
him lying dead was heartrending TO wit
Dess.
This morning Coroner Iorris empanell
ed jury and begun an inquest at the car
repair room. The following is the jury EN-
panelled:
Henry Hayden, foreman; Harry Abel
G. B. Knox, Isaac Epstein, Frank &
Knox Z W. Boynton, Jonas Bear, JohI
". Clement, Peter Munger, Alex Steel
D. T. Robinson, :. W. McMaster.
Patrick Kinney was sworn and testified
that he was at work under the cars at tn.
| time the accident occurred He statel
that before going under the cars 10 work
he notified McCasson, the conductor, ant
| that the cars we're apart when they wer,
at work; that he had not given any sigua
TO move when Collins was killed. that h.
| did not hear the cars moving; that Their,
were FIVE signal lights; three under thu
car and that the conductor and brakeman
each had one. He also testified to carry
ing Collins to the shaDty, and gave an ex
PLANTATION of the position the men were il
when the accident occurred.
John Fulker, foreman of the car repair
ers, testified as to the duty of men betor
going to work under cars; it was customa
~ to notify some of the train men so tina
the engineer would not move the train IN
til the men at work were safe.
John EassDacht corroborated Kinney
testimony, aud swore that five lights wer
burning at the time.of the accident: thre,
under the car, one in the hands of the con
ductor and one 10 hand of brakeman. FL
also testified to assisting Collins after b
was hurt.
VIM. Carson was examined, and testife
that he notified the engineer not to NOV
the train until he was ordered.
Before he concluded his testimony tn
inquest adjourned until | so this af.erDoon
at T. Munger's office.
The Inquest was resumed at 80 an
Geo. Pagh and other employees Of the roa
examined, also Mr., A bel KIM ball, superiD
tendent of the road, and the case was con
Guided about 4:3O p. u. The jury returne,
the following verdict:
We, the jury, sworn to inquire into III
death OF Thomas d. Collins, on oath d.
find, that the said Thomas D. Collins cam
to his death in Rock Island, Illinois. on til
night OF January 18th 1879, by bein
crushed between a train of cars of th
Chicago, Rock Island Il Pacific Rairoat
! Company. and further do we fDd. that hi
death was caused by gross neglect on tn
part of the conductor, William Carson
and further we do find that the said Chi
cago, Rock Isiaud Il Pacific Railroad Go
are guilty of cupabe negligence for no
providing better track room for ca
| repairing purposes, and for permitting
loose management in their SWITCHING
yards, thereby causing coufliction oil
authority We further on oath do fine
/ that had it not been for this carees!
management, ON the night of Monday
Jan. 18th, 1879, the accident would moi
have occurred. And we jurors on oatf
do find that the said Thomas d. Collins
came to his death at the time aud in thu
manner aforesaid.
q womaa's Logic
at is useless to take medicine. shall
| feel better Tomorrow Besides, | need
the money to get that lovely new hat. MY
old one is such fright, aud people will
look mote at my bonnet than they will at