The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-11-15
A FATAL WEST SIDE ACCIDENT
John Humble Caught tween the Bumpers
and Almost Instantly Killed.

Last evening a shocking accident took
place at the Fort Scott elevator whereby
Johnny Humble lost his life. Word came
over the telephone wire at $50 saying that
Mr.. Humble met with fatal accident,
and when the EAGLE reporter arrived there
fifteen minutes after the accident occurred
his eyes rested on the PROSTATE form of
the young man lying cold in death on the
floor of the Office of the company, with the
arms resting on the still and peace
full breast and the head resting
on pillow made of sacks.
1t was sad sight to see him and one that
reminded one forcibly of the uncertainty
of human life. At o'clock be was enjoy
ing the best of health and at els he was
cold in death. The body of the young
man was crushed into jelly about the
region of the heart and his death was
almost instantaneous. The accident hap
pened as follows: There was loaded car
of grain on the scales of the elevator
which the company wanted removed. To
do this they called out three men to
run down another car with sutf1-
cient force to bump the loaded
car off the scales. Accordingly
bhC CACfdSOl 1dudS NChS W OaO NAiiPSJ 49,
which was standing about fifty yards
away and put their shoulders against it
and after moving it they ran it with their
full force against the loaded car, so as 1t
would have the desired effect Mr.. Humble
WAS standing watching them and as the
empty car was near the loaded car he
stepped between them, and Immediately
the boys who were pushing the car heard
a cry. They went to the front of the car
they were pushing and found Mr. Humble
wedged in between the bumpers.
They Immediately pushed back the
empty car and released the body
and laid it on the scales
where seemingly a gallon of blood
flowed from the mouth and the last breath
was drawn. The bodywa moved into the
elevator Office and Officer Guyer took
charge of it and telephoned for the coro-
ner. In the meantime DR. Davis of the
West Side and DR.. McClees of this side
were summoned but when they arrived he
was dead. George Humble, one of the
proprietors of the elevators and brother
OF the unfortunate young man, was pres
ent when the fatal accident occurred and
he was overcome with grief. Isaac Hum
bic, of the firm of Hyde g. Humble, another
brother of the deceased was summoned
by telephone and he too was overcome with
grief 1t was a great shock to the broth
ers to whom was extended the sympathy
of all present.
Various theories were advanced touch
ing the case of the sad and fatal accident.
The most plausible is that Mr.. Humble
went to couple the cars, which was entire
ly unnecessary, and that he slipped and
was falling forward when the bumpers
caught him. This theory is based upon
the fact that the bumpers caught him on
the breast for if be was standing erect they
could not catch him higher up than the
waist. He was forty two years old and
unmarried. He was a member of the
Methodist church and was very quiet,
respectable and upright man who held the
good opinion of all who knew him.
Before o'clock the coroner arrived and
after viewing the remains, turned the
body over to his brothers and Mr.. Ken
de the undertaken, was summoned to
take charge of it. The following jurors
were empanneled to hear the evidence at
the inquest which will be held today: J.
II. Sumeson, J. H. Talman, G. NJ. Stewart,
L. A Carey, w. II. Nichols and o. V.
Darratu Those who witnessed the oc-
currence were Charles RhOades, William
Tartan, H. Uhl and A. n. Harrison