The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-05-24
A MAN KILLED
While Loading a Flat Car~With
a. Heavy Piles.
John Foran, of Baltic, is Crushed to Death
on Saturday Afternoon at $3.50
O'Clock, at Beach City by
Breaking Skid.

"A sad accident occurred on Saturday
afternoon between three and four
o'clock, at Beach City, this county,
which resulted in the death of a young
married man who had not yet reached
the prime of life.
John Foran, who lived at Baltic
Station, on the Cleveland and canton
railroad about 10 miles north OF Gosh
socton, was engaged in helping to load
piles on car. The piles after beng
loaded were to be taken about mile
north on the road, where they were TO
be unloaded. On Saturday morning,
Foran and Michael Burns, VINO mad
been working on John Duffy's work
train, were detailed by the boss TO as
sist some men in loading car with
piles at Beach City. The piles are
large heavy timbers, and are used
principally in making treStle WORK 1or
a railroad. They are from 20 to 80 feet
Dong about Is to 30 inches in diameter,
and weigh from to tons. They were
loaded upon the car by means of skids.
The piles were rolled up the skids with
A block and tackle that was attached to
a small engine, and in this manner a
few men could load them without much
labor.
The men had just about completed
their work and were endeavoring to
load the last one of them when the &C
cident happened. This pile was one OF
the largest they had handled and had
crook in the heavy end of 1t. When
ever it was turned over it would fall on
the skid with considerable weight
The pile was rolled up the skids until
within four feet of the car. AS the
pile was being rolled up the skids,
when it came to the top, the progress
was much slower and by reason of THIS
crook in it. it was more difficult to turn
over than the others were. FOran was
following up the pile at the heavy end
and holding himself in readiness to
block it in case it was necessary to DO
so. When within four feet of the car
ne was standing almost directly under
it and when the pile turned over, the
crook made it fall with such force upon
one of the skids so as to break 1t and
Che nile came down falling upon Mr..
Foran and crushing him to death. 1t
is supposed that the constant jarring ON
fbe skid that was caused by the crook
in the pile whenever it was turned over
so strained the skid as to make it break.
When the skid broke it made a
creaking noise and FOran uttered
a shrek as if he wanted
to avoid the danger but he was already
in the laws of death. In an instant he
was crushed to the grOuna by the pile
He was extricated from his uncomfort
able position by his fellow Workmen
and carried down to the depot, which
was about $50 feet away. Upon exam
ipation it was discovered that one OF
his arms was broken in splinters anc
mashed to a jelly his breast bone was
crushed in and the one side of his face
was terribly lacerated. AS soon as hl
had reached the depot blood began tt
flow rapidly from his mouth and il
about minute thereafter ForaI
breathed his last,
Coroner Cock was telegraphed TO
and he went down to Beach City a
soon as the message reached him. Z
brother of FOran, who was also work
ing with the crew, came to Canton o.
the 4 o'clock train aud procured coitI
for the remains, which he took dow
with him on the 6 o'clock train
Foran's body was then placed in it a
Beach City and shipped to his home a
Baltic. Foran had been in the emplo
of the company for some time. Ill
qyas 2S years old and leaves a wife ant
four children to mourn his untimel
loss.