The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-28
DRAGGED THIRTY FEET
HIS FOOT CRUSHED AND THIGH
BONE BROKEN.
MANY FLESH WOUNDS RECEIVED
But He is Now Doing Well at the Hospital
and Will Entirely Recover Toes
on the Left Foot Were
: "a Amputated. 1 .e

T Within less than two weeks there have
|1been two terrible accidents here by
street cars. AS result one man is dead
and another lies this morning, mangled
and broken, at the Rex Hospital.
On Tuesday morning Of last week,
Sam Wright, young negro from Ridge
way, was killed near the Fair Grounds.
Yesterday morning Mr.. San Watt,
son of Mrs. d. s. Watt, and one
Of the brightest and most popular stu
dents at the A. and M. College, was
painfully, almost fatally, injured by a
car, near the capitol.
1t was at the intersection of Mellow
ell and HIllsboro streets that young
Watt rubbed shoulders with death, and
that he is now alive is due to comb-
nation of good luck, iron grit and the
quick work Of Motorman Maroon, who
stopped his car so quickly
1t was about $40 o'clock. Young
Watt was on his way to the college
from his mothers home at the corner of
Mcdowell and Hargett streets. He was
behind time and intended going out to
college on the cars. AS he reached Hills
boro street a car was passing toward the
capitol. He attempted to get on it, in
tending to go to the monument and take
the outgoing car for the college.
Mr.. Watt had his arms full of books
and the car was running very rapidly.
The motorman saw he intended getting
on and called to him to wait for the right
car, a block away. But the young man
seized hold of the car, and as he jumped
for the steps his hand slipped and he fell
under the platform.
In an instant the brakes were applied
and the car was stopped; but not before
it had dragged its victim some thirty
feet. He was taken out just in front of
DR.. Pittinger's residence and carried in
to DR.. McGeachy's office There it was
found, on examination, that the left foot
was crushed, left thigh bone broken, hip
fractured, face cut, severe scalp wound
received and the skin torn off almost the
entire left side.
1t seems that he was caught by the
wooden guard or fender under the car
and just in front of the wheels. This
dragged him along the track but kept the
wheels from passing over any portion of
the body, except the left foot. The
breaking of the thigh bone and fracture
Of the hip was caused by a severe
wrench while the car was in motion.
When taken from under the car Mr..
Watt was unconscious, and it was at
first thought that his injuries were
fatal. He soon recovered consciousness,
however, and said that the accident was
all his own fault; that he had his arms
full of books and his hand slipped and
caused his fall.
He was taken to the hospital at once
and loving friends, trained nurses and
skilled physicians did all in their power
| to alleviate his sufferings Yesterday
afternoon the three middle toes on the
left foot were taken off. The operation
was performed by Drs. Mckee, Nc.
Geachy and Hubert Register.
| Last night the young man was resting
well, though very sore from his injuries
He will be confined to his bed for several
weeks, though it is believed that he will
entirely recover from the effects of the
accident.
Mr.. Watt is very bright and prom
Using young man, Of loveable disposition
and general favorite. He is a county
student at the A. and M. College, hav
ing won the scholarship from this coun
ty by competitive examination. Durinl
the summer he was in the employ of thu
street car company and his familiarity
with the operation of the cars caused
him to take the risk of boarding this ON,
while it was running at such speed.
| 1t is little less than miracle tina
he was not killed. Had it been one o.
the heavy open cars, instead Of one Of
the small close ones, death would have
been the inevitable, as the heavier cal
could not have been stopped so quickly.