Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-08
DEAD ON THE PILOT
Horrible Grade Crossing Acct
dent at Sunfield.
WOMEN INSTANTLY KILLED
George osmsa Packed Up With no<h
Legs and His Back Broksn--A
Fatal Sleigh Rida

susfrELD, Jan. "A s.ckening grade
crossing accident occurred here this
afternoon. II winch two women we're
instantly killed and two men ialured,
one fatally.
The dead are Mrs. George osman and
Mrs. Schaffer.
The injured: George osman and his
youngest son.
Train No. 5 on the D.. L. & y. known
as the tast train, left Detroit atl.S5
p. IA. today in charge OF Conductor
Pangborn. Henry Fuller engineer. She
was about four minutes late ~ sun.
field, and was running at the rate Of
forty-nse miles an hour when the accs-
dent happened. As the tram rushed
through the town with roar. TIE
ecrcechinR whistle aud Changing bel,
were the death knell II little party of
four IN hob sleigh that was fast ap-
proaching the railroad crossing.
On the from. seat sat osmAn
his wife and Mrs. Scha.fer. co
il is supposed. The track here is dead
level. On came the tram and on
crossing Osman lust .iss head and at
tempted 10 cross the track. In an IN
slant the locomotive struck the sleigh
box III the center with killing fcrcr,
cutting II III two.
"Hello," exclaimed q passenger IN
the psrlor Car, looking out II the win
dow, There goes Il runaway" and ne
pointed 10 team OF horses. "Ny
God, no; that's no runaway. We've
hit come one" cried h.s companion.
The sudden siackening OF the trains
speed verified has remark.
a siekeninx Sight
When the train came 10 "A standstill
everyone hasiened TO the locomo-
tive. There on the pilot was
q most sickening sight. The corpse Of
Mrs. Osman lay IN the half of the shat
tered sleigh box, every hone i'm the
body crushed. From gsppiug wound
in her skull hot blood and brains were
fast turning tho yellow hair and straw
red. So great had been the force of
thu contact that the iron bars of the
cow-catcher were broken and twisted,
and the brafs locomotive number on
the end OF the smoke consumer had
been split in twain and broken of.
Rcversntly, tenderly the sleigh box
was carried To the baggage car and the
train started to back into Sunfield. Two
hundred yards away II stopped again.
There on the white snow lay the figure
of . woman wrapped IN N torn cloak.
Her hair, was already reeking with
gore. Gently the cloak WAS lifted and
the spectators vainly tired TO stifie .
groan. The sight was horrible.
Ii was the corpse OF Mrs. echaffer.
Her right sidc- wss split fpua hip 10
shoulder, showing the torn entrails and
lung. Both arms were broken and her
left foot was cut Off. Her clothes wac
a shred of rsgs. As the mangled re-
mains were carried toward the baggage
car, one man tainted away az the spec
tacie.
Where Osman Was Found.
Further down the track and on the
opposite side, the searchers found the
womap's foot, and near by George Os-
man with his back and both legs
broken. still conscious and suffering
unknown agonie.. Near the crossing
the boy was found unconscious.
When the train reached the DEPOT
the whole town was there. An cider
eon OF Osman sprang forward, gave one
glance IN the baggage car and uttered
heart breaking cry. The grief OF the
man WAS pltabie- The dead were
taken 10 an underiaker's and the lv-
ing 10 drugstore, where such medical
relief as could bc rendered was gwen.
Before lspsing INTO blessed uncon-
eciousness osman managed TO gasp
that be had heard the whistle and saw
the fast approaching train. As ne
neared the track he lost his heso and
attempted 10 cross with the above re-
suits
The train remained at Sunfield for
half an hour. during which Conductor
Pangborn wired 10 Grand Rapids for
medical assistance. the outgoing tram
being held until No. arrived.
Usman IL well known here, having re-
sided about two miles from town on a
farm for many years. Mira. schafars
hlehs nd is the owner OF stave mill.
The quartet had been in town shop
PING. No blame whatever ls attached
TO the railroad. Engineer Fuller 10
crushed by the accident.
~saa ~