Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-17
MEETS INSTANT DEATH.
UNGUAR0sD RAILWAY CROSSING
a Man and Horse Killed by Fast Fly
ing Train Within the City Limits
Last Evening.

A terrible accident occurred at the inter
section of College avenue with the Detroit,
Grand Haven Milwaukee railroad. ia the
Fourth Ward. about Gas O'Clock last even
ing. Louis A. DeGraaf. teamster. single
and "A years Of age, procured bale of hay
and bag of feed for his team and started
for his home al the corner of Lydia and
on College avenue. and, unconscious of any
danger. drove '.pon the railroad track. DE
had no sooner driven upon the main treck
before the through mail from the east struck
his team and sleigh. killing himself and one
horse almost instantly.
The train il due here at $40 p. M. but
owing TO delay of forty minutes at Owosso
Junction was belated at this place this
amount of time. De Graaf and one horse
were found dead beneath freight car stand
ing on a slde-track and just west of the
beaten track of the road. George c. Cole,
who resides at % Grand avenue. was walk
ing east upon the railroad track in
returning home from bis labors,
and was witness 10 the
accident He reports that the train
was stopped and backed to the crossing,
when the train hands viewed the disaster
and promised to send some aid from the
depot. Cole then went To the grocery store
of Walker & Farnsworth, 1877 East Bridge
street, and telephoned the fac, of the disaster
to police headquarters. Sergeant
Johnson and Detective Connolley
in the patrol sleigh were driven hastily to
the scene. Coroner Braddjsh. who had also
been summoned, soon arrived with Ian
tern. The persons made an examination Of
the Surroundings As best they could. These
gentlemen found one horse dead. lying up
on its side beneath the center of the freight
car. and DeGraaf, also dead, lying near il.
His brain was crushed in and part of
the scalp torn back 80 that a portion
of the brains were visible. The nature
of the wounds show that lac was thrown with
triffic force against some solid and sharp OBJ
ject, probably the freight car. One horse es-
capped with slight injuries. The sleigh was
perfect wreck and pieces of il aud the har-
ness were found scattered about in all direc-
tions. The officers present took charge of
the remains, which were taken 20 the resi-
dence of H. T. DeGraaf. father of the de-
ceased. where young DE Grusf also
resided Undertaked George Van Hou-
tum then took them in charge. The
gentlemen. who took a somewhat careful
survey of the scene of the disaster. report
that the car under which the deceased was
found was standing its full length in the
street proper. and that il was attached TO
several Others. Had the train approached
from the west a reasonable explanation Of
the accident could be gwen, but the
track east of this point is comparatively
straight for some distance and there was
seemingly no obstruction TO the view In this
direction. Mr. Cole slso reports that the
train sounded its whistle for the. crossing.
The track is slight down grade from the
east, but there is nothing 10 show the train
was making moie than the ordinary speed al
this point.
Louis DeGraaf Is described as a hard
working. industrious and temperate young
man; the chief dependence of his aged pa
rents and the blow which comes 10 them so
sudden is most sad one. Coroner Brad
dish will empanel jury this morning and
the inquest is expected 10 begin to-day.