Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-15
DEATH ATHIS POST
Switchman Frank Weigand
Killed in the Yards.
An ENGINE PASSES OVER HIN.

An ENGINE PASSES OVER HIN.
slIps While Throwing . Switch Eaely
Yesterday Gornisg and FAi,s Before
the Monster which Crushss Hls LIE
Oos-ArraDEemsnts fog the Funeral.
Frank Weigand, switchman in the
Rock leland yards, was run down by
an engine yesterday morning and
killed. The fatality occurred az 6:55.
just 10 minutes before Mr.. Weigand
would have completed his nights
work. He was in the act of throw
ing a,switch for. yard engine in
charge Of John P. Connolly, when he
slipped, and losing his balance, fell
across an adjoining track. on which
engine 562. IN charge Of John Scho-
field, of Davenport. was backing
down. The locomotive passed over
his body and continued on down the
track, the engineer claiming that he
did not know that the accident had
happened. Charles Nichols. switch
teuder, saw Switchman Weigand fall
and shouted at Engineer Schofield,
but his warning failed to catch his
ears.
j. j. Shields, GA Thirty eight
street, who orked in the yard with
the unfortunate man, says he did
not know the accident had occurred
until notified by Engineer Connolly.
Shields said he found Weigand lying
beside the sidetrack known as the
engine lead quite close to the rail
with his right leg across the south
rail; his head toward the east, and
his right leg across the rail between
the aukle and knee. Weigand was
still breathing, bat was unconscious.
The engine v b :ch crushed Switchm an
Weigand's life out had just pull ed
into the yards from the west with 8
freight train. from which it had cut
loose, and was backing down the
lead track when the trsgety was en-
acted. G. E Taylor. 27l4 Eighth
avenue, was the fireman on the en-.
lgine. G. w. Stanton, another
switchman, was at the side of hi:
fellow workman after the accident
and covered him up, and done what
he could for him until the doctor ar
rived. Switchman Weigand was
| placed on . stretcher and taken in
the patrol, which started for st. An
thongs hospital, but he died before
the ambulance had gone very far
and the body was taken to Knox:
undertaking rooms and prepared fol
burial. DR.. S. c. Plummer arrived
shortly after the accident, and found
that the man was dying. He sale
nothing could be done for him. TIT
doctor found that the leg from the
knee to the thigh had been crushed
to a pulp; the bones Of the pelvis
we're fractured. and the serotum Gu,
open. There was penetrating con
fused wound on the forehead above
the right eye. and also q wound ovel
the nose. He was severely injured
internally.
An inquest was held at Kuox's un
deItasing rooms by Coroner Eckh srt
who selected jury composed of
L. 4. Sykes. foreman; Elmer Thomp
son, William A. Giles, NJ. Griffin, G
E. Bailey and Frank HambIin. 4
verdict that Mr.. Weigand met dea,l
by being run over by engine 562 o
the c.. 4 1. & P. while on duty as {
switchman for said company, was re
turned.
Unfortunate RsilroadipE Caveer.
Misfortune seemed to follow tn
raiiroading career of Mr.. Weigand
He had met with several accidents
1.-TWO in the last six months. in tt,
first having his arm pinched, and Ii
December he narrowly escaped hav
ing one of his feet crushed, escapin,
with slight sprain, which laid hin
Iup for a time, however. Frank Wei
gand was born in Davenport and wa
Al years Of age. He had been EN-
ployed by the Rock Island roat
continuously for "a years with tn
Exception Of the two years which
served as patrolman under Mayo
Medill. He was faithful guardia
Of the peace as well as q trusty raj
road man. He was widely know
and universally liked, ami his tragi
death will occasion much sorrow
the hearts OF those who had learne
to know and respect him, while hi
!: wife and children have the sympath
of the community in their terribl
sffiiction. With his wife Mr.. We
lgand leaves six children: Daisy, q
Harry, Is; Carrie, 16; Charles, 1:
Frank, z; Florence. 4. Mr.. Weigau
was a member of Noble lodge. A.
U. W., Of this city. and the Selet
Knights. Of Moline.
The funeral will be held from Ii
home, 2914 EleveEth-anc-a-half av,
nue., tomorrow morning. with Gel
vices at 9 O'Clock at st. Joseph
church.
/ 4Avn He n RDnAy.