Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-30
A TERRIBLE FATE.
Assessor c. II. Ritter Killed at
West Liberty.
PARTICULARS OF THE FATALAIY.

PARTICULARS OF THE FATALIIY.
En- Route TO COlfax Springs, he Leaves
the Train 10 Converse With Friend
and Never Re;urns.--The Body
Brought Home.
Rudolph, take care of me-" These
were the last words of Assessor G. Fl.
Ritter on earth. They were spoken to
his friend. Rudolph Schwecke, on the
platform at the c.. R. I. & P. depot at
West Liberty at AS this morning. Hav-
ing SAID them he closed his eyes and
breathed his last. having fallen victim to
most terri BILE fate. 1t will occasion
surprise to a great many to know that
MIR. Ritter is dead; it will be shocking
news to all 10 learn the manner in which
he met death. Yesterday he was happy
and as genial with all as it was his GUS
tom to be. Last night. in company with
Mr.. Rudolph Schwecke, he started for
Colfax Springs. Iowa. for the benefit
OF his health. hoping to receive re-
lief from rheumatic troubles. The
two left on the 1921 train. They
when Walcott was passed went into the
chair car where Mr. Ritter met an old
friend he had no. seen for ten years, and
the two engaged in conversation. Mr..
Schwecke nally dropping off to sleep.
When WesJ Liberty WAS reached Mr.. Ritz
ter and his friend went out on the plat
form and walked to and fro conversing
while the train was waiting for connec-
tons. When the train started Mr.. Ritter
jumped on to the steps of the coach be-
tween the baggage car and the smoker,
and. it being a vestibule train, the doors
TO the platform were closed, and finding
he could not open them. he jumped
off, making misstep as he alighted and
twisting his leg somewhat, but he
quickly recovered himself and by this
time two cars had passed and he
grasped the handles as he sup
posed of the rear of the chair car.
but instead he caught the ratings on the
platforms of two different coaches, and
was thus between the two cars. He
managed to get foothold with
one foot on the rear coach, but in
swinging his other foot he caught it be-
tween the bumpers, aud it became fast.
Thus he was held in his perilous posi-
ton. A car repairer. however. Witness
ing his danger. caught hold of his body
and attempted TO push him up so that he
could recover himself The train was
moving ell this time, and the car re-
pairer ran along with the car, and to the
end of the high platform where he was
obliged to let go when Mr. Ritter fell
under the csr. One truck passed over
his right leg, and one wheel of the sec>
ond truck over the left leg, cutting in of
at the knee, when Engineer James
Dyer brought the train to stop. Up to
this time Mr.. Schwecke had heard moth
ing of the fate of his friend and ccmpsn-
ion and was then awakened by lady
passenger, who touched him on the
shoulder and informed him that his friend
was under the train. Mr.. Schwecke
rushed out of the car almost dazed by the
information and disposed to discredit it.
He reached the platform and there saw
the PROSTATE form of Mr.. Ritter lying
across the track. With the assistance of
train men and fellow passengers, the body
was taken from its position aud placed
upon a streicher. Mir. Ritter was still
breathing and conscious. He recognized
Mr.. Schwecke's voice, and turning his
eyes toward him. said appealingly: "Ru-
dolph, take care of me-" and closing his
eyes. quietly and peacefully passed
from earth 1t was the most touch
ing scene, Mr.. Schwecke says, he
had ever witnessed, and many who
stood about the dying man on the moon
lit platform were moved to tears. A doc
tor was summoned but it was too late to
do anything when he arrived; Mr.. Ritter
had expired within eight minutes from
the time he met his fate. The Car res
pairer had run with the train about fifteen
feet try ing TO save him.
Upon examination of the body it was
found that the right leg was severed
above the knee, doubled back and driven
up into the bowels, this Icing the direct
cause If death. while the left leg was cut
off at the knee. There were also slight
scratches about the face and neck.
Mr. Schwecke at once took the re-
mains n charge, secured the services OF
an undertaken, and had the body en-
balmed, clothed and otherwise prepared
for burial. An inquest was held on the
remains by the coroner of Muscatinc
county. and verdict rendered that the
deceased came to his death by accident.
ally falling from train No. 8, on the c.,
lRR.I. P.road near the B G. r. & N.
crossing.
Mr.. Schwecke telegraphed to friends
here of Mr.. Ritter's death, and
the family were properly notified, ant
arrangements made for the reception Of
the body, and when it arrived at 7:3(
this morning in care of Mr.. Schwecke
Unde rtsker Knox was at the depot ant
conveyed it to the sorrow stricken hom'
at the corner of Third avenue and Fiji