The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-09
ACT OF CRUELTY.
Edward CrOwder, a MOneyless
Carriage Painter, is Thrown
From a Union Pacific Freight
Train by Brakemen
And FearfulIy, Perhaps Fatally
Injured Internally.
NOW AT THE HOSPITAL
Has Been Unconscious Most Of
the Time
Since He Received His Injuries
Tuesday Morning.
is TIME FOR A HALT
In the Reckless Throwing Of
Human Beings
Fran, Moviuo. T-ofns hv Druko
Has Been Unconscious Most Of
the Time
Since He Received His Injuries
Tuesday Morning.
IS TIME FOR A HALT
In the Reckless Throwing OF
Human Beings
From Moving Trains by Bruta
or ThOughtIess Trainhands.

Edward Crowder, a, carriage painter
whose home is at Terre Haute, Ind, lies
at the Salvation Army hospital. help
lessly and dangerously injured as a re-
suit of being forcibly elected from a
Union Pacific freight train four miles
east of Rossville. His life has been
despaired of since he was brought to
the hospital, and although today he is
somewhat freer from pain, he is still
in a precarious condition. He is
giant in size, measuring six feet, fouI
and one-half inches in height and
weighing 22O pounds.
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock Ed
ward CrOwder boarded a Union Pacific
freight train at ROSsViIIe. He had e
ka, and from thence to his home in In
diana. He rode on a coal car. When
about mile and a half east Of Ross
Vllle, TWO OF the brakemen of the train
crew came to MIN and demanded that
he get off the train. The train was in
charge of Conductor Crawford. Crow
der pleaded with them to allow him to
ride to Topeka as he thought he could
get some money there to take him on
home. But the bralSemen refused and.
Aordered CroWder to jump Rather than
engage in a fight with two men, Crow
der made ready to jump. He stood on
the short platform between the two
coal cars and was preparing to jump
The train was getting under good
speed. The ground at the side OF the
he could alight all right. He turned
again to the hrakemen and pleaded to
be allowed to ride even as far as Silver
Iake-fOur miles further on This re-
quest was responded to by the brake
men rushing at the big man and push
ing him off from between the cars He
was not able to prepare himself for the
1au- When his large body struck the
ground he was Wrenched off his feet
and fell over. He lay alongside the
tracks for half an hour in intense pain.
h 4
dragged himself toward Silver Lake. Ar
irving there he went to a grocery store
where bed was made for him. For a
time he 1apSed into uncOnSciOusness A
purse was raised for the injured man
and he was taken to the depot and sent
to Topeka. When he arrived here he
was unconscious. He was taken in an
ambulance to the Salvation Army his
pltaI Upon examination it was found
that one of his kidneys had been rup-
tured by the fall.
All of Tuesday night and part of yes
terday he was in a semi-conscious con-
dition. The physicians regard his con-
ditiOn most serious It is proba bIe
that the injured kidney viii have to be
removed. On account Of his size a spec-
lal bed had to be made for him. A cot
seven 1eet IN length and standing three
feet from the floor was made.a Crow
der is now lying on it. He is d fine look
ing man, having dark hair and large
black eyes and q curling mustache His
1ather l. G Crowder, he says is q
wholesale merchant of Terre Haute His
mother IS a Spanish woman. The Span
1sh blood is apparent in CroWder There
is some doubt about his story, but Terre
Haute has been wired for information
CroWder says that he is p years of age
His appearance Is that of man of 90
years. Crowder says: L have been
out at Cheyenne Wyoming working at
my trade of carriage making I started
to go home and ran out of money
am no tramp. My folks are wealthy
and live at Terre Haute. Indiana But
1 didn't like to ask them for money so
l decided to beat my way for a short
distance. expected to get work in To-
peka for little while to buy a railroad
ticket. When the. freight train got
away out Of RossviIle those brake
men came at me. I tried to get them
to let me ride a short way, but they
threw me off there while the train was
when fell. / just felt as If L had been
cut in two. When could get up I got
to Silver Lake ind they sent me to To-
peka. I don't remember anything aft
er left SilVerLake until yesterday when
I found myself here in the hospital. The
doctor says my kidney is ruptured Z
was never sick in my life to amount to
anything, and I am a strong man. The
pain has been something awful
Speaking of his home he said: NV
father is a wholesale man at Terre
Haute. I am going to write to him as
soon as am able, and he viii send me
money to come home. I didn't ike to
ask him for anything while I was west
Before / went to Cheyenne L was in
Mexico. I am part Spanish
The attending physician at the hosDf-
tai prOnOunceS the case q serious one
His chances OF recovery are small