The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-14
rE INTERNATIONAL ROAD IN THIS
CITY EVIDENTLY Has ONE.
James 7. Clark Yesterdays Victim-He Is
Caught in Switch and the Life
Crushed Out Of Him by the
Large Iron Wheels.


gagged in cutting out from the train a
few cars when
a THE ACCIDENT
ekAich mangled a human being and
flushed out his life took place.
Brakeman James Il. Clark was I'M
coupling cars and shifting switches,
and while performing his duties he
was called to couple car ON the
switch near the oil house.
He moved rapidly between the cars
to couple them, and was in the
act of stepping out, after he
gave the signal to go ahead,
when his foot was caught with vice.
like grip between the rails lying close
along side each other near the switch.
| Eye witnesses say he realized his
perilous position, and with great cool
ness made superhuman effort to eX.
tricate himself, but the remorseless
rails refused to surrender their victim.
The train was moving, spectators
were dazed at the impending calamity
and stood speechless and helpless
while the victim heroicly endeavored
! to release himself.
HIS EFFORTS WERE FRUITLEss.
In less time than it takes to tell it.
the heavy truck of a box car caught
him and with shuddering cry of dis
pair he fell to the track. In the fall
he was dragged to the rails and
HIS HEAD
failing Immediately in front
tOf the wheels, thew
I,NoccnI 10 II T.
near the right side of his nose, crush
ling nearly the whole of his head into
la shapeless mass.
I His death must have been instan-
\Kpeous.
Fis body was dragged some dist
8Spd strange to say, when the
III passed over his head they
ehrown olfthe rails and plowed
Gfhe dirt and crushed into the ties.
kRmes L. Clark was a young man
ht citizen of Camden, ILL.,, where it
kvsaid his parents reside. He made
1his home in San Antonio, and the
Btrainmen yesterday stated they
Thought he had sister living there.
Mr.. Pray, the agent at this place.
land the trainmen took charge of
he body and by Mr.. Pray's
orders it was conveyed to Monroe
1iller's undertaking rooms. A tele-
gram was sent to San Antonio asking
: if the sister of Clark resided there,
.but up to late hour no answer had
'been received. A telegram was also
sent to his old home in Illinois and it
is probable his remains will be sent
there for burial.
lin the pocket of the dead man
1asonic emblem was found and it is
ossible he was q member of that Or
Ter.
Justice Stuart held an inquest and
viii probably hand in his verdict to-
lay.
TIE DEADLY SWITCH.
Yesterdays accident is the
bird or fourth which has hap
ened at that particular switch and
Tim horrible death appears
, Re an abiding place among it's
! sfS and ties and guards.
WSeveral years ago, perhaps some
Feven or eight, Wallace Hawkins,
railroad man, while coupling cars,
Rost his life there.
i About five years ago railroad man
banned Bell, while coupling cars at
IHlS SWluCu, Adu lis lOOU CduSuJ U6-
tween the rails, and before he could
elease himself he was thrown down
Ind the wheels passed over his left
Bg, crushing it from the ankle to
bme distance above the knee joint.
Three or four surgeons were at once
summoned and THE STATESMAN re-
porter went~down with them.
4 With, prompt unanimity they de-
'"lared Mr.. Bell could not live,
ut having nothing else particu-
arly to do at that time they
vent to work and cut off the crushed
Abb.
AHaving skilfully accomplished this
work., the surgeons 10 'ked wise, ard
again, with prompt unanimity, posi-
lively asserted Mr.. Bell would die, as
he shock to his system had been too
'reat.
In four weeks time Mr.. Bell was
R1t and he is living today.
The switch is a dangerous one; and
such are. Railroad men yester-
hy.asserted in some states the c,mpa-
esare compelled to fill in between
e rails so as to make it impossible
ia human foot to become fast be-
cen them. Certain it is,
mething should be done to make
safe for railroad men who have to
Mprk about the switches.
unw uE crAMnc