The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-08
SLAIN BIZ THE TRAIN
Unknown Man Mangled by the
Portland Express.
He STUMBLED ON The TRACK.
Farm Laborer Meets a Terrible Fate
While Walking to the City-En-
gineer's First Accident.

While rounding curve two and half
miles east of this city last night at BOO
O'Clock Northern Pacific engine 90 hauAng
the Portland express, struck an unknown
man. literally breaking his BODY III pieces
and killing him instantly. The thlnS was
done 50 suddenly and 50 silently that En-
gineer WhitcOmb one of the oldest men on
the road hardly realized what happened
until he felt his engine deal the death blow
From the moment he saw the man 50 dam
serously close he began putting on me
emergency air brakes and was but few
seconds in bringing the putting engine 10
stop. lie then reversed his lever and went
back to where the battered, lifeless body
lay alongside the track With tender
hands the trainmen lifted the unfortunate
stranger onto the baggage car and brought
the body TO this city. where IL was turned
over 10 Deputy Coroner Teater, who sent
it 70 Bonney & Stewards mOrgue. 1t is
not and never will De known exactly how
the accident did happen. Engineer Whit
combs theory is that the man had been
walking on the track. and got off when
he heard the whistle for the street cross
ing. but stumbled just as the engine reach
ed him and fell onto it.
The scene of the accident is about half
a mile north of Georgetown, near the road
crossing. There is long curve leading up
to the crossing and when near the end of
the curve tho first glimpse was secured OF
the man. For a distance of several feet
the ground is level and affords fairly good
walking. There IS a large amount OF I'M
derbrush and bunchgraSs however, which
causes a person to proceed cautiously. 1t
Is possible that the man stumbled after the
rays of the headlight left him. Engineer
Whitcomb, who has pulled trains for four
teen years, felt very grieved over the ac-
cident, the first in his long experience. To
Post-Intelligencer reportr he told the
following account:
I'VE were several minutes late and came
pounding around the curve at the rate of
about forty-five miles an hour. ! blew the
whistle for the street crossing and The fire
man rang the bell all around the curve, as
we often see men walking on the track. At
the last end of the curve l saw deceased
walking on the side of the track. He had
plenty of room and l never dreamed I
would hit him, but just as the rays from
the headlight left him I saw him stumble
and fall toward the engine. He hit on the
pilot and we must have carried him along
a distance of twenty yards, when he drop
ped off. | stopped the engine as soon as
! could and went back after him. He was
lying alongside the track, and presented a
horrible appearance. His face was covered
with blood and dirt and his clothes were al
most torn off. Several people gathered
around, and from a lad l learned that the
man had been working on a farm near the
pottery for his board. otherWise he was
not known. We pat him in the baggage
car and came on 20 town. This is my first
accident, and l assure you 1 feel bad over
It"
At the morgue the body was stripped and
the clothes searched, but nothing was
found but a handkerchief and a plug of
tobacco. The clothes consisted Of a gray
coat, gray wooden overShirt, jean troIsers
overalls, heavy boots and an old black
Derby hat.
Examination showed that both legs were
broken between the knee and thigh, both
arms broken. neck dislocated. a deep cut
over the right eye and a long cash on the
right fore leg.
In general appearance the man could be
called fine looking. He was feet inches
tall, well formed, weighed about $50 pounds.
wore fun iron gray beard, closely crop
ped. clean cut features, light gray eye Of
great fullness. and a high forehead. Al a
glance il is evident that deceased was
man of intelligence
Coroner Askam will probably hold an in
quest on the remains tonight.