The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-24
HIS LIFE CRUSHED OUT
Unknown Man Killed Under the Buera
Vista Street Bridge
A Terminal Train From Pasadena Runs
Him Down-Stepped In Front of
the Engine

An unknown man, apparently 45 or
so years of age, was instantly killed last
evening at $3.50 by an incoming Termi-
nal train from Pasadena, which struck
him from behind and crushed his life
out under the bridge which spans the
river on Buena Vista street.
The engine was backing, being what
Is known as a double ender, and was
approaching the Downey avenue sta
ton at reduced speed. AS told by the
conductor, he first noticed the man some
distance ahead of the train, walking a
few feet from the track and going
toward the east, his back to the oncom-
ing engine. He suddenly and without
looking back or appearing to hear the
approaching train, swerved toward the
track alongside of which he walked for
some feet The engineer thought of
course the man had heard the train and
would step out of the way in time.
Just as the train came up to him he
stepped deliberately onto the track and
in an instant had gone under the loco
motive. The engineer Immediately put
on the air brakes and brought his train
to stop within few feet. The body
lay under the small pilot and partially
under the wheels lifeless. No attmept
was made to take it out, but the train
was held and the police and coroner
notified. Captain McKeag, of the East
Side station, soon arrived on the scene
and took charge until Coroner Campbell
appeared and had the body removed
to the undertaking rooms Of Kregelo
& Bresee.
UNI height weight say 100 pounds, dark
gray. The face is covered with week s
growth of beard. Deceased was dressed
in an old and faded coat which had once
been black but is now a yellowish
brown, dark brown trousers and heavy
brogan shoes. He wore q black soft
hat and an old negligee shirt. Appear
ances would indicate that he was a
tramp. Nothing was found in the pock-
cts of the clothing save a knife and a
broken hair brush, not a penny nor a
line to show his name. On a piece of
cardboard which had evidently formed
part of a cigarette box was written in
bad pencil the address, "12171s Main
street"
From the extent and nature of the
wounds upon the body it was seen that
death had been instantaneous The skull
was terribly crushed on the left side
and a large portion carried away. ex-
posing Lne Drain CAVITY. LIE leIt dFIIl
was torn from the body, the whole
shoulder lacerated and the skin ripped
from the muscles. There were abras-
ions on the trunk and the leg was also
gashed and bruised. All the injuries
We're on the left side, the right being
comparatively free from wounds. No
one was found who could throw any
light on his identity which is still I'M
known. The inquest will be held this
morning at 10 o'clock at the morgue
A switchman employed by the cleo
trio road. whose cars cross the bridge
at the point where the accident oc-
Cured. said that he had noticed the
deceased walking along the track just
before the train hit him and that he
had dinner pail in his hand and looked
like a man returning from work. He
was probably mistaken about the pail,
as none could be found in the vicinity
by the coroner or his deputy. The loco
motive whistle was blown to warn the
man Of the approach of the train, but
he either did not hear 1t or heed it, Sew
eral witnesses were of the opinion that
it was a deliberate suicide, but this re-
mains to be proven.