The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-22
Death On The Rail.

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On Thursday morning last, at an
early hour. VIM. Horn, a young mar
who had for several years resided In
this city and who for several months
past had been employed in the stone
quarries, met his death on the rail of
the Omaha road. and his unfortunate
death adds another victim to the
curse of intemperance.
Coroner Durkee, deeming 1t expe-
dent to hold an inquest, summoned
rs jurors Messrs. w. L. Coon. Chas.
Parsons, Geo. Constans, Jos. II. Geb.
hard, John H. Pye and Joseph Sny.
der. He summoned from st. Paul
by telegram, the train men Of the
train under which the accident oc.
Cured. who arrived In the city Mt
7:30 last evening ut which time the
inquest took place. The testimony
ELECTED showed. as intimated above,
that deceased was In IN Intoxicated
condition on the night Of the fatality.
The last seen of HIM was about one
o'clock In the morning. ut which
time he WAS ut John Pye's saloon.
where he ate hearty of sardines and
crackers. From there he started up
Main street toward the depot, and
wandered mp the track IS far rs the
crossing at Walnut street about op.
pOsite the residence of Jas. Shoe.
makers, where he evidently fell
down, his body projecting across the
left rail of the track. 1t could not
then have been more than 80 o'clock
rs it was apparent that he must have
been exposed to the night air for
some little time, his hands being per.
fectly cold when the body was pick.
ed up after the accident, which oc.
Cured at 2:40.
The engineer. A j. Cogswell, in
his testimony at the inquest, said
that he saw an object on the track a
few rods ahead Of the engine, and
supposed it to be some sort Of a gar
ment. Stepping to the left side of
the cab he Immediately observed that
whatever it was, it would not pass
under the pilot of the engine, and in
all haste he reversed his locomotive, |
upon his fireman at the same
time to know what in Gods name
that was. At the time, the train
was Stacking up to make a switch,
and the rate of speed was not more
than about three miles an hour. The
jumped to the ground and
running ahead, ascertained that the
form of a man was being dragged
along the track. 1t was some ten or
rods after Horn was struck
the train could be stopped.
The fireman and conductor Of the
train both corroborated the testi.
.Ony of the engineer. The only
signs of life exhibited by deceased
the train was stopped was two
three death gasps.
The other testimony given did not
that outlined above nor did it
ldd any particular light to the un.
fortunate affair. The blow which
death was received upon the
at the right side of the fore.
head. A wound was infected, com
mencing at the mouth and extending
upward to near the eye which, though
not of such a character as to cause
was an ugly3cut. The victims
eft arm was broken above the elbow,
and one bone prOtruded through his
clothing.
The verdict of the jury was sub
,tantially in accordance with the fact
above recorded.
Deceased was a nan about twenty
four years of age, a strong, muscular
fellow and, it is said, when not under
The Grazing influence of drink was
peaceable. inoffensive and good Ia
.ured. But he was more or less adict.
ell to that accursed habit of getting
On sprees, and at such times was
boistrous. He has been the
at several times of police re.
yulations. and at the time of his death
there was a fine pending payment for
mis- conduct, which vas to have been
paid on Wednesday. 1t was settled.
and the poor fellow will have no
further reckoning to account for on