The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-15
JUMPED TO DEATH.
George Washington Brock Jumps From Nov
ing Train and is Killed.

6SU6Tudy cNculUS Gu0 W6SU DOuuu IASCO
passenger train, due at Wichita at 5
o'clock, brought, without the knowledge
of the train men, two young men full OF
life and hope to seek their fortunes in this
city. For fear of detection they did not
want to come into the Union depot and
planned to get off in the outskirts of the
city. On arriving at the Midland depot
one of them ignoring the caution Of his
companion insisted upon making a jump
while the train was moving at the rate of
fifteen miles an hour at least. That jump
proved fatal. The train hands discovered
in a few moments that a man had been
hurt or killed and stopped dead going back
to the scene of the accident. As soon as
the alarm was given and aid summoned
there was nothing to do but to proceed. In
the meantime his companion had gotten
safely off and came back to render what
assistance he could. Although they
were poorly dressed and stealing ride it
was evident at glance that they were no
common tramps and good look at them
would satisfy any one of their honesty.
George Washington Brock is the son of
Holland Brock, of Grand Summit, Cowley
county, is probably 81 years of age and I'M
married. His companions name is +. l..
Russell, of the same place, and perhaps a
year or two younger. The following facts
were told by Russell, who had no inten-
ton of withholding anything nor did any
thing appear to their discredit:
Brooks father was formerly well-tO-do
sheep rancher but reverses in business, a
large family and domestic troubles have
reduced him to poverty almost, and a
gloomy future is the sad accompaniment
Of his grey hairs that are the Inheritance
of age and sorrow. At present he is en-
gagged IN gardening and farming, and his
son, who is no more, assisted in the main
tenance of the family. The recent rains
put off the corn cutting for week or ten
days in which the boys were engaged
and which enabled them to help those
at home There was nothing but idleness
and privation staring them in the face and
they concluded to go to Ness City, where
Russell had worked before, in the hope of
finding lucrative employment. Without
money and extra clothes they started to
tramp the distance. They stole rides on
| the Santa Fe first, and after being put off
repeatedly they managed to get to Au-
gusta, where they slowed themselves away
on the front of the baggage car, between
it and the engine. A little platform from
which no door opens, served them
as a hiding place, and in this
position they rode from Augusta to
Wichita. They had however changed their
first plan, having found this uncertain
mode of travelling very unpleasant and
had concluded to stop off at Wichita If
they could not find a good job here they
felt they could certainly make money
enough to take them on to Ness City.
Upon arriving at the Midland depot the
train was running very fast, and as before
stated, needless of his companions warn
ing he made jump from the platform and
was Immediately lost to his view. 1t
is evident that he did not let go
of the train probably through fear,
or otherwise he might have
escaped with only serious bruises. As it
was he must have held on and was dragged
in between the moving train and the plat
form.
After the train passed his bleeding body
was found lying between the inside rail
and the plank walk. Drs. McClees and
Purdue were summoned and he was laid
in the most comfortable position possible
on the planks. His left hand and wrist
were frightfulIy mangled and horrifying
wound was made in his head which was
bleeding profusely. He was utterly un
conscious and no one thought he could live
more than a few minutes. Fortunately
the physicians were promptly on hand and
stanched the blood, after which he showed
some signs of life. The wound on his
hand and arm would neCesSitate amputa-
ton, but the most serious one was about
his head. Something sharp has caught
his temple, tearing two-thirds of the scalp
completely from the head, and what was
worse for quite a distance the periosteum
was torn from the skull. There was no
fracture and had it not been for the last
mentioned fact the physicians would have
had some hopes. Everything was done
that could be done and by the
time he was ready to be moved an ambu-
lance arrived and he was conveyed to the
Wichita hospital. Here the physicians
amputated the left hand just above the
wrist and dressed his head with care, and
although his pulse grew better they could
entertain no hope. The spark of life lin
gered until 1918 when he quietly breathed
his last, not having recovered conscious
ness for a moment. The remains were
taken charge of by Undertaken Dunbar
and will be laid out and held subject to
the orders of his family.
Right after the accident some gentle
man gave Russell 80 cents and he went
Immediately to the telegraph office and
sent the Intelligence to Brooks father.
Upon inquiry it was learned that
neither of the boys had eaten anything
since the preceding night and, of course,
the bystanders went down in their pockets
at once Fussel would not eat, however.
until he was assured that his chum was
alive and provided for. In few minutes
he WAS inquiring his way 10 the hospital,
and pleaded so hard that the physicians
| concluded to let him remain and watch by
the bedside of his friend. He was with
him when he died. Mr.. Brock, senior, will
probably be in the city this morning some
time As he lives quite way from the
telegraph Office there will, necessarily, be
more or less delay and, until his arrival,
no arrangements will be made for the fu-
neral.
EXCURSIONISTS HEARD FROM.