The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-09-14
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
FATAL ACCIDENT.
e. c. Hatch, General Agent of
the Metropolitan Insur-
anCe Co., Run Over
by the Cars.
He Was Attempting to Board the
Omaha Accommodation at
Liberty Street.
Both Legs Severed at the Knees
Death rlercifully Ends the
Mans SufferingS

A terrible accident occurred at the
crossing of the Omaha track at Lib
erty street at eleven o'clock this fore
noon. Mr.. E. @. Hatch, general agent
of the Metropolitan Insurance Co.,
which has an office over the Mankato
National bank, was at the crossing as
the accommodation from Lake crystal
pulled in, and he thought to save
long walk by boarding the train and
riding to the depot. He did not wait
until the end of the train reached him,
so that when he slipped and failed to
Get on the train he fell under the
wheels. Both legs must have lain
across the lower rail as he fell, as both
were cut off at about the knee. Mr..
J. B. Coy was on the other side OF the
track in his buggy, waiting for the
train to pass, and although he did not
witness the accident he Sawothe body
living in the middle of the road two or
three feet from the rail when the
train passed by Prof. G. L. Treat
was also at the crossing and saw the
man endeavor to board the train and
fall under the cars. Both at once
started for doctor, and Drs Warner
and Andrews arrived in few mo-
mentS.
Mr.. Hatch was fully conscious and
seemed to realize his terrible plight.
He gave some particulars concerning
himself and said that he was en-
deavoring to get on the train to ride
to the Omaha depot. He said that he
has family residing in Duluth, which
is his home. He continually called on
those about him to lift his mangled
legs, and said that they would have to
come off. He said repeatedly, "Boys.
this is terrible" and asked to be taken
to the hospital, resolutely refusing to
be taken to the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Allen, at 120 Clark street, and
expressed the wish that she be not in
formed of his accident. He said that
he had been collecting.
Stimulants were administered, and
a cot secured, and he was carefully
lifted upon spring wagon and taken
to the hospital, refusing to consent to
60 to his daughters home. Mr.. Hatch
has resided in this city for several
months, having boarded with Mrs.
Burt during the summer, and lived
with his daughter more recently. He
was about forty-five years of age, pleas
ant and intelligent, of sandy COM
pleXiOn, and with heavy sandy
muStache. He was light built and
dressed well. He was well liked by
all who knew him, and his sudden
to all of our citizens. The report
quickly spread, and before the mangl-
ed body OF the dying man was remOv-
ed quite crowd had collected at the
place. Large pools of blood had flow
ed down forming large clotS in the
dust. The train which he attempted
to board was going at it's usual rate of
speed, four to six miles an hour, and
did not stop, as probably no one on
the train knew of the accident. 1t
is very dangerous practice to attempt
to board moving train, and espec-
tally so attempt it anywhere except
the last platform.
Mr., Hatch died at the hospital at
about 1890 o'clock this afternoon.
His son-in-law, G. III. Allen, has tele-
graphed to the wife of the deceased,
at Duluth, asking for orders as to the
disposition of the remains. 1t is prob
able that they will be buried at this
city. The remains were taken to John
Klein & Co.'S undertaking establish
ment this afternoon. The deceased
was forty-four years of age, and leaves
a wife and one child at Duluth. He
carried $4,000 of accident insurance in
the Provident Accident Co., and $500
of life insurance in the Metropolitan
life.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
In order that the, matter might be
adjusted with the insurance COM
panies more readily, Coroner Shoe
maker decided to hold an inquest over
the remains of the late e. G. Hatch.
This was held "Wednesday at John
Klein & Cos undertaking rooms, with
j. L. Williams, B. ID. Pay, John Barn
ard, w. III. Pfeffer, f. G.. Heinze and
A. NJ. Smith as a jury. County At
torney Benedict conducted the ex-
animation.
The evidence developed the proba-
bic fact that Mr.. Hatch attempted to
get on the eighth car from the engine
and the sixteenth from the rear end
of the train, an empty coal car. He
probably reached the bumper and
then slipped off. He was seen to pass