Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-08-07
CAUGHT ON THE TRACK
James Tucker Ran Into BY the
Overland Train.
HIS INJURIES ARE NOT FATAL!
The Fair Grounds Road the Scene
His Horse Killed.
HIS INJURIES ARE NOT FATAL

There was another railway ac-
cident this morning which came
near proving fatal, but which for
tunately terminated without loss of
human life. The scene of the acci-
dent was near the State fair grounds,
where the Silverton road crosses
the railroad track.
The California overland passenger
train was about an hour late this
morning and when at this crossing
they ran into the one horse wagon
of an old gentleman, James Tucker,
who was coming to Salem from his
home near Silverton, to market a
few boxes of plums and pears.
Representatives of the JOURNAL
were promptly upon the scene of
the accident and report it as seen by
the only two eye witnesses to the
collision.
now IT HAPPENED.
At the crossing the engine struck
the horse and light wagon and
knocked them forty yards, when
they alighted on either side of the
track, fifty feet apart. The contents
of the wagon were scattered from
the crossing to where the wagon
was deposited, in demolished con
dition, while there was not string
of harness left attached to the hors e,
which was killed outright. Mr..
Tucker, who was driving, was in
deed fortunate, escaping with moth
ing more than flesh wounds about
the head aud face. He was tossed
high into the air and struck the
ground not far from where the
wagon fell. The horse landed
twenty-five feet to the right Of the
track and the wagon an equal dis
tance to the left. The wagon was
struck behind, on the right side, as
the right hind wheel is scatterc d
for many feet and shivered into hun
dreds of pieces.
AN EYE WITNESS.
Miss wilkins, who lives near the
fair grounds railway crossing, was
dangerously near when the accident
occurred. She was seen by JOUR-
NAL reporter, and here is what she
had to say:
~ was going down the road to-
ward the railroad track when I
heard the train coming. saw the
old gentleman driving the gray
horse coming slowly along. | heard
the engine whistle and was afraid
that some accident would happen, for
he was driving so very slowly. lie
drove upon the track and ii seemed
to me was entirely across it, when
his horse shied and turned around
as II to re-cross the track. The en-
CINE footed several times but the
horse did not get oil the track and
was struck by the engine. / am
pretty sure the wheels were entirely
of the track before the horse shied
and turned around. He drove so
slowly 1t seemed to me that if could
have been there to grab the horse by
the bride that could have saved
them. But the horse and driver
and wagon were gathered up aud
knocked nearly fifty yards"
ANOTHER EYE WITNESS,
Miss Nash, whose home is just on
the right of the railroad track, was
In the yard when the accident oc-
cured. She saw the train coming
and also saw Mr.. Tucker driving
along slowly, She said the wagon
was nearly of the track when the
horse seemed to shy To the right and
was caught in that position 10y the
train.
MIR. TUCKER TALKS,
Immediately following the acci,
dent Mr. TucSer, the injured mau,
was placed In Mr.. Brooks buggy and
brought 10 the home of II friend
Ms. Clark, in East Salem. DIS
Smith aud Byrd were called, aud |
dressed his wounds, which wep |
found.to be not serious. Two cuts |
Oh the back of his head aud Daa In
his lip were sewed, aud he is resting |
easily. No bones are supp osed To be |
broken, and his recovery is pretty |
'ertain 10 follow.
He was seen by the reporter an
'ald that he saw tho train coming
'nd was certain he had pleu.y &.
II A