The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-30
CRUSHEDBY The ENGINE
James Drew Throws Himself In Front
Of Train and Is Killed.
His Body Horribly Mangled After
Several Attempts He Succeeds
in Committing Suicide He
Was Undoubtedly Insane.

By the Standards Special Wire.
Butte. June @.-Last Sunday a suicide
occurred to mar the happiness of a beau
tiful Sabbath, to-day there was another.
James H.. Drew, was well known 10 many
people of the city. and has always been
looked upon as a hard working man with
no enemy save himself.
Until within n few months ago he wat a
hard drinker, but suddenly ceased his
indulgence i'm strong drink and since then
has led a sober life. Recently his friends
noticed that at times his mind seemed to
fail and at intervals, while not abso-
lutcly insane, he acted childish n
strange. Early this morning he left his
home and W hen mex seen. So far as Il is
known, il was by several men en-
ployed at the Butte reduction works
whom he asked about the prospects of SCI
curing n job there. Being informed that
no vacancies existed he asked one of the
men about the depth of water in the pond
near III pumping station of the water
company. Apparently not satisfied with
the answer he received he started Ia walk
IN the direction of the pond. but had only
gone a short disIancc before he returned
and began TO walk up n Town the
rack OF the Montana Union railroad. At
about 10 o'clock hc was still pacing back
and forth and occasionally seen To stoop
aud pick up small particles of
rock and place them in his mouth. He
also stretched out his arms and threw
back his head, causing Joseph Lunn, who
saw him, to think that he was not all
right mentally. Lunn, who lives near
where Drew was, watched him for "A
couple Of hours or until abou II 30
o'clock. whcna passenger train arrived
from the north.
Drew deliberately walked in the center
Of the track towards the approaching
engine. Freeman Howe, the engineer,
saw him, and blowing the whistle began
" stop the train. When the engine was
within about ten feet of him Drew
stepped. but close TO the right hand rail
aud when the engine passed the pilot
struck him on the side and partially
tirned him around. Drew looked M at
tle engineer and simply smiled, not pay
big attention 10 the engineer who asked
bin what he was trying Ia do. The train
began Ia increase its speed, and Drew
vas seen by Simm and several men en-
ployed at the reduction works Ia follow
tle train "A short distance and then turn
back and walk by Silver Bow. In n very
slort time afterwards a freight appeared
d. sight M Drew began tn walk toward
3. The engineer, Thomas A.. Lynch.
hiled TO notice him, owing To the heavy
smoke from the piles of roasting ore. nm
cl the engine was within about four ear
ltngths of him. Lynch began to blow the
Whistle, but Drew paid no attention To the
Warming sound.
lSeeing that the man was determined t.
MI himself Lynch applied the air brake,
hit as the train was an unusually heav,
ODE he could not bring IL Ia "A stop until
too late. As the train kept approaching
time, Drew threw forward his right foot
as II bracing himself, and then change,
his position by placing his left foot for
ward, %clinching his fists and looking
squarely at the engine. He stood "a it'll,
To the right OF the center of the rack an,
consequently was within plain sight ~
the engineer, who said that the man.
eyes appeared as large as ones fist AN,
had a peculiarly wild and frcnzied look
When the engine struck Drew the trail
was moving at "a rate Of speed not 10 eN
reed IL miles an hour and instead Of bc
ing run over by the locomotive he wa
struck by the pilot and thrown Ia on'
idle. The train continued on "A few ca
lengths before II stopped. Backing nj
slowly la " here the man had been seen
Lynch stopped and he aud the iircmal
got oil aud saw Drew lying 10y the side q
the track dead. An ugly wound ahot
the right arm and "A portion OF the LEI
foot torn of and mangled were all the in
juries Ia he seen.
The body was placed on the train an,
AIKEN Ia the depot AT South Butte ana
kept there until removed by Undertake
Sneffilau upon an pftsr iron A'tlnE 'bi
oner Cantwcll. As soon as possible an III
quest was held, at which Joseph Luni
Ed. Williamson. T.. Williamson. the en-
ploycs AT the reduction works, Forema
Howe. 4. A.. Lynch, William Whit
aud William Guy, trimmers, were exam
med as witnesses. James 4. Wallace.
stepsou of deceased, was also examine
as To the mental condition of Drew. an
testified that recently he had often al
| p.ared irrational and childish.
: The jury returned a verdict that III
ceased while insane had committed su
eide, and exoncrated the compan
: and its employees from all blam'
Drew was nearly 90 years OLD
: and leaves a wife and son the latter abo,
10 years old and also "A stepson who is
fireman at the Parrot mine. Drew can
7 10 Butte four years " aud for "A LOT
time was employed as a top man at d
T. Anaconda mine. More recently he work.
: at the Silver Bow sampling works. u
! was a member in good standing Of the a
%. u. W., under whose directions IL
funeral will probably DE held.