The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-27
KILLEDBY THETRAIN
Backyard Man Crushed on the
Northern Pacific.
WARNINGS FELL ON DEAF EARS.
Trying 60 Cross in Front OF the Train,
He IL Caught by Engfne-1nquest
to BE Held Today.

Henry Swanson. an employe at Henry
Lohse's brickyard, at South Seattle, was
instantly killed and his head and lower
limbs terribly mangled at about 8 o'clock
last evening by the Northern Pacific train
due in the city from Portland at 5:l5
O'Clock. The train was nearly an hour be-
hind time, and, according to the con-
ductors estimate, was running at about
thrty-five miles an hour.
The only known eye witness TO the af-
fair is Engineer G. L. Davis, who reported
the circumstances to Superintendent |. A.
Nadeau and then went on to Snohomish
From Davis account it appears that when
he rounded the curve and came upon the
long straight stretch running through
what is known as Georgetown, south of
the city, he saw man walking along the
side of the track. The whistle was blown
ut the customary places. When the en-
CINE was within a few hundred feet of the
pedestrian he suddenly stepped on
apparently looking back over his
shoulder at the approaching engine.
Davis thought the man knew what he was
doing, but. if he did. he miscalculated the
distance, for the engine was upon him in a
blown and all brakes put on as soon as
possible, but not in time to prevent the
accident. The pilot of the engine struck
him and must have carried his body ninety
feet and then thrown it into the ditch at
the left of the track. The train stopped
about the distance OF four cars beyond the
lifeless body.
Engineer Davis and Conductor Daily, ac-
I'll L. IS b.
passengers, went back to see the condition
of the man. Mayor Ronald was among
the party and, STOPPING down, felt the
pulse, but found that life was extinct. The
news of the accident spread like wildfire
through the neighborhood and in a short
time several hundred persons were on the
spot. John Graham. the foreman at
1.ohse's brick yard. identified the man as
Henry Swanson, one OF the men employed
under him.
The train went on to the depot, and
Coroner Horton was notified. He pro-
ceeded at once to the scene of the accident
and found the body lying upon its back in
deep grass, about seven feet from the
track, on the left facing the city. An
examination showed that the right~leg
had been severed at the ankle, and the
The skull was cracked the top of the head
being held in place by portions of I'M
broken skin. A large portion of the brains
had leaked out and were scattered all
around.
The body was taken to Bonney &
Stewats, where search produced a
doubie-cased silver watch, which was
wound up, but had stopped at Col, ind-
eating the time of the killing. In addition
to a few trinkets, he had 50 cents in silver
Coroner Horton questioned Conductor
J. w. Daily, who repeated Engineer
Davis account of the accident Several
persons in South Seattle agreed that the
engineer blew the whistle, and, judging
from the sound, at a considerable dis
tance before the man was struck. An in
quest will be held this morning at Bonney
It Stewards. and all parties having any
knowledge of the affair will be placed
upon the stand. Mayor Ronald will prob
ably be called upon to testify concerning
the condition of Swanson and the rate at
which the train was going.
Swanson was Swede and about So
years old, and would weigh between l65
and 175 pounds. He went TO work at the
brick yard one week ago today. He was
born in this country and had lived for a
long time in the Puget sound country.
Last winter he was employed at the ST.
Paul and Tacoma lumber mill in Tacoma.
1t is not known whether he was married
John Graham, the foreman at the brick
yard. said that Swanson left the yard
about five minutes before he was killed
and walked straight up the track on his
way TO supper.