The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1881-11-03
Killed BIZ The Cars,

On Tuesday evening last, one OF Inc
most distressing accidents that it has
ever been our duty to record occurred
in this village, on the arrival of the ex-
press train from the east at half past
nine O'clock; resulting in the death of
y young lady named Viola Lewis, a
resident of Montcalm county, near
Greenville, who had been staying with
Mr.. McMahon's people at the Baldwin
Exchange.
The unfortunate girl had been spend
ing portion of the evening at Mrs.
McMulln's, north of the railroad, ac-
panied by Miss Mcmahon, and they
had both started for the depot where
they expected to meet Mrs. Mcmahon,
returning on the train. They proceed
ed down the street to the railroad, in
tending to cross over to the south side,
on which the depot is situated. The
train came along too quick for them
to reach the crossing, and Miss Lewis
attempted to run across, diagonally, in
front of the train. In doing this, she
left the sidewalk, and started across
ut u point where switch leaves the
main track. Before reaching the track
she crossed an excavation made by
workmen in constructing the road, and
was doubtless somewhat breathless as
she reached the road bed. Her COM
panion had tried to dissuade her from
running before the engine, but to no
purpose. From her position, Miss Nc
Mahon could not see her unfortunate
companion at the fatal instant; and
after the train had passed, not seeing
her, she called out, receiving no an
swer, she hurried up the track 10 the
spot where the mangled remains were
lying, the pale moonlight feebly re-
vealing the terrible sight to her horror
stricken eyes. The trunk of the body
lay face downward, on the south side
of the south rail. The wheels had
passed squarely across just below the
chest; the skull was fractured; and the
left arm crushed, above the elbow.
The most reasonable theory seems to
be that the unfortunate girl had tripped
over the north rail of the switch, the
curve of which was about the center
of the main track-falling directly
across the south rail of the main track,
the ponderous engine at the next in
slant doing its awful work of death.
Miss McMahOn was terribly shocked,
AMI ran down the street, crying and
calling-"OL! OH! sne's killed! she's
killed!-she's cut all 10 pieces"' In the
moment of excitement. her ptierances
were so disconnected that those whom
she met could not understand her; but
Richard Esterling, believing that some
thing had happened, started out to in
vestigate. He first went to the depot,
but no one there knew ofany accident.
So fully persuaded was he, however,
that some trouble had occurred, that
he slated down the track, followed by
three O. tOlr OtDers. A walk of a 'ew
TOuS 'CNgJ'eu Tile CsluSc Oi Juc lIuullC
copo; ia Of Miss Mcmahon.
Justice Campbell was among those
first n Zoe spot, where a crowd ofsym-
pathizing people quickly gathered
and took charge of the remains, which
were covered by slawi and were at
once removed TO the hotel-borne upon
u door. The verdict of the coroner's
jury was in accordance with the facts
above stated.
1t is supposed that the engineer on
the locomotive did not see Miss Lewis
for tDe easOn that she was so near
when she started across the ireck.
The remains were deceo ~ laid out,
and therelatives imm mediately IN To' med
by telegraph of the hearth eas ag oc-
rience. A coffin was procu eo f. ON
Reed City, yesterday, and tois (I uurs-
day. morning the body was conveyed
home for burial.
This case should serve as O sad warn
ing to ali-that they cannot be too care
full when near railroad track and
trains; and that they never
should try to cross in front of a moving
locomotive, when 1t is very near.