The record-union., 1892-07-05
FOURTH OF JULY WHISKY.
It Causes an Old Fisherman to At
tempt Suicide.
George Smith Throws Himself Under
the Wheels of a Freight Car
Terribly Mangled.

A blood-curdling attempt at suicide was
made on Front street last evening. At
half-past 6 o'clock man was seen to
start from Gribble's saloon, at the corner
of Second and street, and run rapidly in
the direction of the river.
As he neared the freight platform, op-
poslte the police station, he attracted the
attention of Jailer George Naghel, Spe-
cial Officer Greer and a RECORD UNION
reporter, who were within few yards Of
him.
Naghel exclaimed, "That man means
mischief! He's going to jump into the
river!'
As the man approached the railroad
tracks he jumped upon the platform of
the freight depot, ran across it and leaped
off upon the tracks on the opposite side.
Just at this instant engine No. 1922,
with an empty coal car. came rapidly up
fIom the lower siding, but was behind
some empty cars and the depot SO that
the engineer did not see the man until he
sprang across the tracks directly toward
the engine.
The observers at the police station ran
to head the man off, but il was too late
when the danger was seen. The engineer
and fireman both shouted to the man,
telling him to stand back, and at once re-
versed the engine.
1t was too late, for the now desperate
man deliberately sprang forward, and
falling to reach the track ahead Of the en-
gine, threw himself under the last truck
of the coal car.
IT WAS A FEARFUL ACT
To witness, and the several observers
were Mortified. The man apparently
dropped across the rail, and the trucks
passed over his body, which was thrown
and twisted about, raising the car wheels
from the track. Then he lay motionless,
mangled, senselesS mass of flesh, but
alive.
The spectators reached the spot almost
as soon as the car had passed, and it was
then seen that the car had passed over his
right leg between the knee and the body,
twisting it and mangling it horribly. He
was also bleeding from cuts on the head
and other parts of the body.
a stretcher was at once brought from
the Receiving Hospital, but few yards
distant, and the poor fellow was carefully
removed to the hospital.
A SHOCKING SIGHT.
He only partially regained conscious
ness, and muttered wildly and inco-
herently, clutching at his mangled leg,
tearing shreds of flesh from it, and throw
ing the bloody fragments to the floor,
until his arms were held by the officers
and assistants.
The City Physician was promptly sum-
moned by telephone, and arrived in a
few minutes with an assistant surgeon.
While waiting for the doctor officer
Frank White, Jailer Naghel and Special
Officer Greer bandaged the mangled leg
IN such manner as to check the flow of
blood as much as possible, and did every
thing possible to relieve his suffering. A
glance was sufficient to determine that
the mans leg was literally ground and
MASHED TO A PULP,
And the physician at once ordered his
clothing removed, and administered an
esthetic to the now struggling, raving and
cursing unfortunate.
He was so thoroughly intoxicated that
1t was difficult matter to get him under
the influence of ether, but he was finally
quleted, and the mangled limb was
amputated c4ose to the body.
There were two bad cuts on the head,
but the skull was apparently not frac-
tured, and the other bruises about his
body We're found to be not of a dangerous
nature. Unless he should prove to be
internally injured it is thought he may
survive, although he suffered great loss
OF blood and the most dreadful shock i'm
aginable.
How he escaped being torn to shreds
seemed miraculous to the spectators, and
there was no question but that he de-
Hberately tried to cast his body across
the track under the wheels Of the car.
a. Brennan, engineer of the locomotive,
reversed his throttle and stopped almost
in an instant, and within a space of
thirty yards. He stated that the man
tried to get under the engine, but did
not quite reach it in time, and he did the
best he could to prevent the deliberate
intent at suicide.
WHO HE Is.
Shortly after the desperate act a
RECORD UNION reporter learned that the
mans name was George Smith, and soon
found q number of people who knew him
as fisherman, living in a scow anchored
on the river between Bannon Slough and
the mouth of the American.
a partner of the unfortunate man.
named Henry Budd, heard Of the frantic
act of Smith and came in search of him
only to find him in the hands of the sur
geons. He stated that he came into town
with Smith, and left him for a few
moments at Gribble's corner, where he
was apparently in jovial mood.
de had been dancing and talking
politics with some bystanders, and sud-
denly ran off, with the result as stated.
He was evidently
CRAzED WITH LIQUOR,
And not conscious of his acts. Smith IS
an Englishman, and it is not known that
he has any relatives here.
He has been engaged in fishing and
living in the scow on the river for five or
six years and is quite well known to
river men. He seldom goes on sprees,
but when he does turn himself loose he
does not make a halfway job of it.
1t is said that about a year ago, while
drinking, he attempted to get in front of
an engine on the y olo side, and was only
prevented from killing himself then by
the engineer who knocked him off the
track just in time to save his life.