Morning journal and courier., 1882-07-24
A Track Repairer Killed.

He is Crushed to Death by the switch
 Engine Argus-No Jury Summoned But
 Rearing of Witnesses Had.
 Last Saturday morning about quarter past eleven o'clock John McGrath, who lived on Wallace street, was run over and killed by the switch engine Argus at Belle Dock. The deceased was track repairer, about 30 years of age, and leaves 8 family. He was working with gang at the north of Bridge street, under Division Master Oliver Bangs. Near the place where McGrath was killed there is curve, and the Argus approached to pass to to the coal bins. McGrath was spiking raa to a new tie. His back was toward the enpi- neer. Engineer Goodfellow blew three sharp blasts, but the man did not get out of the way, thinking, probably, he had time enough The spike was found driven home The front step of the Augustine one at the pilot struck him and the three small driving wheels passed over his abdomen, crushing him to death. The unfortunate man was dragged about hundred feet before the en- zine was stopped. Then he was taken to & spot near the scene of the accident, where he shortly after expired.
 Coroner Bollman was notified, but did not deem 1t necessary to summon a jury. He however, had hearing of witnesses at 3 o'clock: when the following testimony was given
 Engineer Goodfellow testified that the three whistles were to call engine from the yard, not to inform McGrath. whom he didn't see because of the curve. The fre- man was on the tender, and McGrath was on his side of the engine. If the deceased had been on the track on the engineers side he would have been noticed. The engine was going six or eight miles an hour The bell was rung when he started up. He heard cries but not until he felt the engine on the mans body. Then he put on the air brake and stopped immediately. For three years and four months has he been in the employ of the Consolidated road and has killed no body but this one man. He always looks out for repairers the track. but they also watch the engine themselves. There were men all around McGrath.
 Fireman Bates testified that he was on the tender looking up the track that he didn't see McGrath. The first he felt was the mo- tion of the engine when the lever was re- versed. Three whistles had been blown and the bell rung. The witness had been thirteen or fourteen years in the employ of the rail road.
 Michael Meskill, who was working in the gang, testified to the engineers whistling He tried to make the engineer hear him and stop, but the whistling prevented James Donahoe tried to pull McGrath out of the way but failed. The step at the pilot pulled McGrath down. his overalls caught on the spike and he was thrown under the wheels The engineer stopped as soon as he heard, but it was too late then
 James Donahue, who has worked for the road but six days, and who was with Me Grath, testified to the whistling He shouted to McGrath-the engine was then thirty feet away, perhaps-but he paid no at- tention. The witness then pulled him away, but he sprang back, evidently not under standing the trouble, and was dragged under the wheels.
 Hugh Welch testified that the whistle was blown loudly. He did not see McGrath get under the wheels, but to him when he was under them and helped take him out. I am killed" he sald and died Thomas Conboy testified to the whistlng
 MT. Meskill said that MeGrath was not hard of hearing, but would provokingly get into danger. Meskill used to hit him, but he got so mad he swore he wouldn't do it again. The boss would also kick him.
 The coroner found that no one was to blame.
 Band Concerts.
 Some time since the special committee of the Common Council on music, who have control of the band concerts on the Green, passed vote that the band should advertise their programme of music preceding each concert. The committee claimed that the citizens had only been receiving "circus''