Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-24


Yesterday afternoon an accident occurred
on the Fort Scott track between Eleventh
and Twelfth streets, in which c. +. Elliott
q brakeman on that road, was instantly
killed.
Mr.. Elliott was a young man Of about %
| years of age and lived with his mother
| and two brothers on South Mosley avenue
His brothers are both employed us yard
men at the Santa Fe. His mother is about
50 years of age and in very feeble health
her two sons were afraid to communicate
| to her the sad news of their brothers
death for fear that the shock would cause
her death.
/ His headless body, crushed and mangled,
was taken TO behring's undertaking estab-
| lishment on North Main and there a
coroner's inquest was held. His head was
crushed to d jelly, his arms and legs
were both horribly mangled. His watch,
found near the scene of the accident had
stopped. 1t was pried open and showed
2:27 at which time the accident had evil
IDENTIFY happened
The facts concerning the fatal accident
are best told by witnesses at the coroner's
inquest
Nix johnson, yard-master of the Fort
Scott, was fist called and said: elliott
was switching for NE; / did not see the
occurrence itself but saw the victim shortly
afterwards lying in the middle OF the
track. he was working under me and
was on the rear end of the switch engine.
Don't know whether bell was rung at time
or not. ! was acquainted with the deceased
for five months. As got off the engine
and walked back saw the body lying on
the track; head towards the east, body
mangled, head cut entirely off,
arms and legs badly crushed.
At the time of the accident we We're back
ing west to Fort Scott and western. The
deceased was on the track, saw evidences
that he attempted to climb upon the car
as it GENE towards him. There were foot
marks on the brakebeam and fresh
dirt as though person had tried to climb
upon the car and did not get hold and thus
caused him to slip. He fell and all four
cars loaded with coal and the engine pass
ed over his body. He was dead when
first saw him.
w. d. Caldwell, a helper in the yard,
next took the stand and being duly sworn
said Il was first attracted by the engi-
neer cryout, they have killed Jasper |,
then started to run mp the track and found
Elliott lying as described. The last time
saw him alive was about five or ten min
utes before | saw him lying on the track.
dead. He was then endeavoring to
couple cars on the line south
of the scene of the accident. At the time
of the accident we We're not near any
crossing, and there was no occasion for
ringing the bell. i also examined the car
/ examined the body and readily identified
it as that of c. f. Elliott"
+. S. Mead, an engineer on the Fort
Scott, Wichita & Western railway. eugine
No Z, was the next witness. 1--WE had lust
coupled on to five coal cars and were back
ing down the track. I was viewing the
track but was unable to see anyone on the
track: did not see deceased at any time
during the accident and not until | saw
his dead body on the track. RI
struck the cars light at the
time they were coupled, and after
they were coupled. / backed up slow We
had just crossed the Eleventh street cross
ing oyer which we rang the bell, and upon
our starting up again after coupling the
fireman rang the bell. At the turn the ac-
cident occurred We were running about
three or four miles an hour
N. NJ Dearborn, fireman, was next
sworn and said: The first thing that at
tracted my attention was the cry OF the
engineer, f. s Mead | then looked I'D
the track and saw the body mangled in a
manner before described At the time of
the accident l was viewing the track
aud ringing the bell and did not
see the deceased before the accident:
don't know ii | would have seen him even
If he had been on the track, as | was look
ing for train from the west
This was the first inquest conducted by
Coroner Percy; the witnesses were exam
amined by Prosecutor Jones: and the jury
was composed OF the following: W. O.
Whipple, J. j. Garrett. A j. Webb, j. W.
Dunbar W. +. Reed, c. 4 Fielder
After short consultation the following
verdict was returned;
The deceased came to his death from
attempting to get aboard the cars while in
motion by stepping on the brake beam, and
in some way slipped or lost his hold and
fell under the cars, while performing his
duties as Switchman in the employ OF the |
Fort Scott, Wichita u Western Railroad
company: and according to the evidence
given here there can not be any blame at
tached to the employees"
The funeral viii take place this forenoon
from the Deering undertaking establish /
mcnt; it having been considered advisable. |
for reason above stated, to hold the services |
from here instead of from the home OF the !
deceased.
FRISCO OFFICIALS
Mai. II. l. Morrill,, second viee-pre,ident |