The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-06-25
From Tuesdays Daiiy-June s3.
Death of Charlin Smith.

Death OF Charlie smith,
At6:3O p. m. yesterday, Charlie Smith
swi.chman in tho yard OF the Texas 4
Pacific Railway COMPANY, remarked
to Engineer oliphant, Of the Same SER
vice. al am % years old now; have
been away from homo three years and
/ am going back soon TO see my folks"
Forty minutes later he was on a
stgolcher, bloody, mangled, dead.
Hastily gathered particulars present
tho
ACCIDENT AS FOLLOWS: =.
Having arrived at the compress
| Switchman Smith descended from the
| top OF box car and with his
foot In the stirrup shaped step, swung
himself out at an obtuse angle, seek
| ing 10 get in view of the engineer.
That paticular siding Is not straight,
and, in order to be seen, considerable
effort is needed in such case. Gazing
| intently in the direction of the engine,
bis face toward the river, he did not
observe post planted on the platform
within 10 inches OF the car side, and
as the train was backing swiftly, he
was struck by the post, his hold on
he fell, his body becoming
wedged between the moving car and
the platform, in space less than eight
| inches wide. The engineer and fire.
man were not able TO see the disaster,
and the backward motion was c0ntin-
uod until the unfortunate man had
been sawed along the edge OF the
platform for 80 yards. Failing then to
get a signal, the engineer halted, the
fireman ran toward the rear end and
discovered the dreadful predicament.
THE FATAL POST.
Tho cause OF the death of this
valuable Young man Is that post. II
is a heavy sill, standing, as stated, l6
inches from the utmost edge of car
at that point and it is trap. Its fatal
proximity has in it the appearance of
design. or course, nothing sinister
belongs 20 the planting Of il there. 1t
was erected IT, which to aEtsch the
stay wire--Ih6t wire which supports |
the huge smokestack of the compress.
engine. YET it has been all along
menace to every rail.
way man unfortunate enough
to serve in the capacity Of switchman.
or brakeman. at Is a wonder" re-
marked Engineer Oliphant, "that this
accident is the first from the same
cause"
THE FIRST To SEE HIM.
a
n ext person who arrived on the spot |
was c. r. Scherzer, the nightwatch-
man of the cotton compress aud yard.
These three tenderly lifted the nlnn- |
glod man and composed HIS BODY on |
the platform. He revived all instant
and feebly asked for ice water.
He did not appear to realize his con
dition. After touching his lips to the
water he uttered low moan ana then
his swimming eyes closed forever.
WHO HE WAS.
Charles T. Smith, the victim of the
accident, was native OF Defiance,
Ohio. His parents 9re both living
there. He has three sisters and two
brothers, all grown. He was well
built young man, with blue
eyes, dark hair and except
for the marring effect OF
small pox, handsome. Everybody
of his acquaintance had a kind word
of regret to say. One thing that
struck the reporter in making his in
yestigations was the respectfully of
Smiths friends. He had evidently
selected his associates from the better
classes. Again, he was in the habit of
talking about his mother and his sis
tors most affectionat sly, making them
his theme. Not less than a dozen
about the family at Defiance. 1t is
evident that he was devoted son and
brother. He came here one year ago |
and got employment at once. He was
suspended short time ago on account
of a misunderstanding, and he was re-
instated Immediately on investiga-
ton. For three years he has been q
railway operative, and had grown
skillful in that avOcation. He was
Tod a X
icating liquors.
CHARACTER OF INJURIES.
His right leg and arm were broken,
each in many places, and his entire
trunk was crushed into jelly. The
left limbs being uppermost as he was
pushed along the serrated edge OF the
rough platform, these were nearly pre-
served and only slightly injured. I'm
dertaker Smith took charge of the
body and it was there all OF last night.
THE JURY OF INQUEST.
Justice Kendall, acting coroner, or
dered jury of inquest and. having
secured one, repaired to the spot ana
viewed the body as it lay on the plat
form. He then adjourned the inquiry
until 8 a. m. to-day, in order to take
testimony. This is q formality rem
dered necessary by the law but other
wise superfuous proceeding; Ihis is
manifestly one of those accidents for
which no one Is TO pane
that post, and certainly censure be-
longs to management that has per-
mitted 1t to remain there. 1t is as
deadly trap as could well have been
conceived, II an evil mind had sought
to render danger more dangerous.
Ordinarily, the observer would over
looked the death inviting contrivance.
But experience ought to have sug-
gested its removal, or rather, exper-
fence should have prevented its being
placed there.
FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE REMAINS.
The deceased belonged to Yard Mas
ter Hinkle's night force, and, there
fore, that gentleman transmitted the
tives in Ohio. AT at a late hour orders
had not arrived for forwarding the
body, but in view OF the high standing
of the family no doubt Is entertained
that such will be the determination.
The undertaken probably received
directions before this morning, and 1t
is more than conjecture TO remark
that deceased Will be embslmed to-
day. He has been frugal in
habits and his wages, beyond neces.
sary expenses, are saved and In good
hands. He leaves plenty to afford the
expense of the coffin and the express
age, In the best style OF modern us
age, If this was not the case his FAM
iiy would 10 doubt proceed as sug-
gested.
PREsENTMENT.
A few DAVIS ago. deceased purchased
aud remarked 30 hiz room mmA
.s.t ~ tba ax.n,,f of n feL4i