The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-11-23
a DISTRESSING ACCOUNT.
4 Young Man Crushed Between Two
Freight Cars I'm the Santa Fe
Yards Mt This Place.

\ Young Man Crushed Between Two
Freight Cars I'm the Santa Fe
Yards at This Place
Thursday evening about half-past Z
O'Clock several reports were brought to
this Office regarding the accident near
the round house. To-day a reporter of
THE NEWS visited the scene TO learn the
details.
1t appears that at seven o'clock, as
Charles Hull, the night switchman in
the yards of the Santa Fe railroad,
few rods west of the d:spatcber's office,
was making a coupling between two
freight cars the draw-head of one gave
way and the end of one car went crash
ing upon and into that of the other,
catching the unfortunate switchman in
between, MASKING the right arm into
jelly, driving the bones into the timbers
of the car. bruising his head, and won
derfrl to relate, only slightly crushing
his body. No one was near and it was
several minutes before Hull could ex-
tricate himself He was Immediately
taken to the hotel of MIR. j. A. Justice
and kindly cared for.
To person who has seen the cars it
is indeed a mystery that the man was
not Instantly crushed to death.
Eight loaded cars had been pushed
down the track by locomotive that
had detached itself afterwards. The
switchman went between an empty,
standing, combination freight car, Han
nibal 81 st. Joe, No. 1457, and the first
of the moving cars to couple them to-
gether. The cars came together with
great force, and the coupling was made,
but the draw head of the II. & ST. Joe
car gave way and the end of this
car was raised and plunged itself
into the other car, Santa Fe
box, No. 7430, loaded with bullion.
The end OF the Santa Fe car above the
stills was STAYED in nearly foot and the
panels torn to splinters.
We visited the unfortunate young tel
low this afternoon and found him brave
and cheerful He remarked, showing
us an old scar on his left hand, that this
was not his first experience, though he
has not Jared so badly before.
The doctors amputaled his arm just
above the elbow about II O'Clock last
night, and he is doing exceedingly
well, though suffering some pain in
both arms. His face is not bad
ly hurt, and he thinks he is not
seriously injured internally. He is
mighty brave and plucky though, only
eighteen years old and has not yet al
lowed his mother, who lives at Abilene,
to be told of the affair. Indeed his first
request as he was carried from the
wreck is said to be, "Donr tell my
mother, yet, the shock might
hurt her" His uncle, who lives at
WestphAlia, in Anderson county, has
been telegraghed TO and will be here
soon. The patient is in good spirits and
is receiving the kindest attention on the
part of MT Justice and family and the
Santa Fe company. and will improve as
fast as circumstances will allow.
The position which Charley Hull has
occupied seems to be associated with a
strange fatality.
Chas. Powell, who was night switch
man just before Hull took the position.
is now laid up at the place of Mr.. Jus
tice and gong about on crutch-ihe
result of catching his foot in switch,
crushing his ankle. He seems to take
1t with good heart, too, says
his home Is where ''he takes off his hat"
aud that the company takes good care of
the employees who meet with accidents |
There is also Frank Goode, who pre-
ceded Powell, carrying his arm in |
sling and forming one of the inmates of |
the west side hospital. He says |
he failed to pull his hand |
out from between the bumpers soon |
enough, but will Try to do so next time
He is printer and after his fingers allow
him to grasp an m-quad he is coming |
up here to show that man Stone how TO !
nick uD iyDA