The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-20
CRUSHED TO DEATH
A c., H. & ID. swITCHMAN AND A
CART DRIVER THE VICTIMS.
A Grade Crossing and No FIagman
Responsible for the Two Lives
Driver Not Identified.

The deadly grade crossing, which the
city authorities are seeking to displace by
viaducts, was responsible for two deaths
last night. Mart Turner, a c., II. & ID.
switchman, and man supposed to be John
Jones, of 251 East Washington street, were
killed by an accident at the c., HI. & D.
crossing over Pine street. A switch engine
coming from the east struck sprinklng
wagon driven by Jones. Turner, the switch
man, was sitting on the tender of the en-
CINE, which was backing at good rate of
speed when the collision came, and he
ceived injuries in the head which resulted
fatally short time Afterwards. Jones
was knocked from his wagon, but did not
die until three hours later, after he had
been taken to the City Hospital. suffering
from concussion of the brain.
Some time ago the Board of Works Or.
dered flag shanty at the Pine-street cross
ing removed from the position 1t occupied,
as it partially INSTRUCTED the street The
railroad company, however, merely re-
moved the shanty from the north side of
the tracks to the south side, and placed it,
so 1T is claimed, in a position where the
approach of a train from the east is shut
off from South Pine street. A flagman sta
toned at the crossing goes off duty at 6
o'clock in the evening, just at an hour, it is
heaviest. 1t is further charged that the
G., III. Il ID. switch engines sometimes rush
through this part of the town at much
higher rate than is permitted by ordinance.
Last night, at 6 o'clock, switch engine
left the yards at State street to back down
to the city depot at Virginia avenue for
the purpose of taking out loaded freight
cars that help make up the evening freight
trains that go out on the c., III. ID. A
c., H. d. passenger train leaves the
Union Station at $50. and the switch engine
had to get out of the way of this train
Mart Turner, the switchman, was sitting
on the tool box in the rear of the tender,
and had little opportunity to make clean
jump to the side when he saw the sprink-
ling wagon almost on the track Some of
the railroad men claim that Turner yelled
CINE reached the crossing, but that the
driver whipped his horses across ahead of
the engine The horses had safely crossed
the track, and the engine struck the wagon
squarely, the hub rim of one of the wheels
denting the heavy timbers of the engine
tender. The. body, of the wagon crushed
Turner against the engine, breaking his
skull and injuring him internally The
driver of the wagon was knocked few
feet away and fell upon his head. receiving
a severe conclusion of the brain. Turner
was lifted on the engine and brought down
TO St. Vincent's Hospital, but before he
had left his body He was thirty-thr
years of age, lived at 100 Hoyt avenue, and
leaves a wife and two children
taken to the City Hospital i'm an ambulance,
and only partially regained consciousness be-
fore his death. He was unapie TO give his
name or address, but in his pockets was
found receipt for the rent of room at
251 East Washington street card in his
posh bore the of Of John sa as
and six feet tall. He wore overalls and
heavy shoes. a watch and $ were. found in,
on his head, and death probably resulted
from concussion of the brain.