The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-20
BOTH MEN AREBADLY HURT
It. J. KeIIam and w. A. 1. Thompson
Brought Home.
THOUGH THEIR INJURIES ARE SERIOUS

Great Hopes Arc Entertained That
Both VIII Recover the Full Use of
Their Eacusties-N Thompson 1t Is
Expected Will BE Fully Well in Six
Weeks.
T. ]. Kellam and W. A. L. Thompson,
the two Topeka mon injured in the
wreck on the Midland Terminal railway
at Victor, COL, Friday evening, were
brought to Topeka yesterday afternoon
in a special Pullman car attached to
Santa Fe train Ne 6, arriving here about
$50. Airs. Kellam and Charlie Holiday,
who left Topeka Saturday morning, met
the car at La Junta, Col, and Mrs.
Thompson went to Emporia and returned
with the party.
1t was not known in Topeka until early
Sunday morning that the injured men
were to be brought home, as il was sup
posed Saturday that they would remain
in Colorado until they had at least re-
covered from the effects of the shock.
1t appears that DR.. Lanigan of Pueblo,
who was in attendance at Victor, de-
sired on account of much better facili-
ties to remove them to the hospital at Col
orado Springs. and secured car for
that purpose. When once on the car,
Mr.. Thompson thought it best that they
continue their journey to Topeka, as it
was evident that Dir. kellam would be
confined to his bed for some time. DR..
Lanigan accompanied them to this city.
On the arrival of the train in this city
tresses from the car, neither being able
to move, and taken in separate ambu
lances to their respective homes.
DR. Hogeboom was called to attend
Mr.. Kellam, and DR.. D. G. Jones' who
was in the city for the purpose of attend
ing the funeral of Dr.. Beers, accompanied
Mr.. Thompson to his home.
Mr.. Keliam's condition is quite seri-
Gus. The entire lower portion of his
pletely paralyzed and devoid of feeling,
the result of conclusion of
the spinal cord. The conclusion
is believed to have been caused by
direct blow on the spine about
the fifth vertebra. Yesterday he re-
manned in partial stupor. This morn
ing DIR. Hogeboom reports that he is
Cheerful with firm belief that he will
recover, able to take nourishment, and
that he passed a very comfortable night
last night At present it is impossible to
determine the ultimate result of the in
jury or the length of time he will
be confined to his bed. 1t is the belief
of the attending physicians, however,
that his complete recovery IS only
question of time, and they agree that in
all proba bility it will be very gradual
There are no external signs of injury on
Mr.. Kellam's body, and he is suffering
little or no pain.
Mr.. w. A. L Thompson is suffering
from a severe bruising of the muscles of
the back and neck. His face and hands
are also severely cut and he is unable to
move his head or body. DR.. Jones re-
ports that the pain suffered by Mr..
Thompson is similar to muscular rheu-
matism, slight when in a perfectly quiet
position, but intense on moving. He
believes that Mt Thompson will be con-
fined to his room for u month six
weeks, but that he will entirely recover
with no bad effects whatever
The injured men know little of the
manner in which they were injured.
Mr. Thompson stated that they were sit
ting in the last seat of the coach, facing
the front of the car, when the freight
car, which was running at the
crashed into the coach d.
rectly behind them. The back of the
seat struck them in the backs and threw
them forward, and they suppose that it
was the seat back which inflicte the in
juries, A lady sitting in the seat facing
t en- was horribly b ui'ed bout the face
and both ears torn off. Mr.. Thompson
was rendered unconscious, and was
laid out on the snow bank supposed
to be dead. On coming to his senses
he remembers of seeing MT KeIlam
being taken from the wreckage. He
must have lain unconscious
for about two hours, as it was two hours
before Mr.. Kellam was taken from the
wreck Mr.. Kellam was in a partial
state of Inconsistencies until rescued,
and remembers nothing. Mr.. ThOmp-
son was sitting on the side
next to the car window, and
the broken glass was responsible
for the cuts on his face and hands. The
injured passengers were placed on a fat
car and taken back to Victor, distance
of about nine miles, where they received
medical attention.
The Midland Terminal railway is
short line of road running from Den
YER to Anaconda. and is owned by a
private company. 81. Collbran is
president and general manager, w. Z,
president, and r. L. Ford auditor
circles in this city that the in
jured passengers have strong
grounds for damage suit. It
appears that it was simple negligence
in not having a brakeman on the rear car
when switching near an incline, which
was responsible for the accident. Neither
Mr.. KelIam nor Mr.. Thompson have ex-
pressed themselves on this point as yet,
nor have any of their friends 1t will
nndou btedly, however, he a costly acct
dent for the Midland Terminal railway