The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-26
UNDER THE CAR WHEELS
John Bowen Mangled and Crush
ed on the B., A. a. P.
HE WAS STEALING A RIDE
Il Is Supposed That He Was Starting on
His Way to San Francisco
to Enlist in the
Navy.

JbIIn IpbNfus ~ g'thS
machinist Of this city, was run over
and killed by "A freight train on the
Butte. Anaconda & Pacific railroad last
evening about 7:15 o'clock. Ii Is sup
posed an ambition to enlist in the navy
was the cause OF the young mans
death, as IL is believed by his relatives
and friends that he was on his way to
Silver Bow To try and catch the soldier
rain, intending to go to Mare Island
navy yard and offer his services to the
government.
The unfortunate was a brother of
Edward Bowen, who is "A private in
Company + of the LIST Montana in
fantry, and he. 90. had a great de-
sire To go to the war. but his prefer
ence was for the navy, as being "A
skilled machinist, he hoped to secure
service aboard a man-of-war. He had
applied to senator Mantle to secure
him such an appointment, and his
friends had interceded with the sena-
tor. who replied that IL the young man
went to Mare island he would find no
difficulty I'm getting into the navy He
had not signified his intention of leav-
ing. but he went to Silver Bow yes
terday to bid his soldier brother good
bye. and II Is supposed he became fired
with the military enthusiasm at the
sight OF the soldiers and made up his
mind to stow away on the train and
accompany his brother. and that he re-
turned to Butte and made hasty prepa-
rations TO leave, and was catching "A
side to Silver Bow in the hope of catch
ing one OF the soldier trains or overtak-
ing the regiment, intending to adopt
Senator Nantes suggestion and go di-
rect to Mare island. This is not posi-
lively known. as the young man is
not known to have impaired his plans
IN any nna hpt ~ ia tho thanrv nf the
dead mans relatives and those friends
who knew of his ambition, as they can
not ccoun for his being on the train
from which he fell to his death under
any other hypothesis. The theory is
strengthened by the fact that he wore
an army belt when found. which is
supposed to belong to his brother. and
some of the young mans friends think
he may have arranged with his brother
unbeknown to the rest of his family to
rejoin the train and accompany him TO
California. The facts in this
ton will probably not be known till the
brother learns of the sad occurrence
and informs his relatives here.
The train which killed young Bowen
was an extra freight made up of 20 coal
cars and a caboose. IL left the r., A. *
l.. station for Anaconda at 7:i5 i'm the
evening. As il reached the foot of Colo
RADIO street. on the long ~trestle. the cars
were stopped and Conductor Wetherill.
who was I'm charge of the train, got on
about 100 yards west of Colorado street
to recouple the cars. To his horror he
found the body of a man lying mangled
beneath the wheels. He sounded the alarm
and the train was held still. Conductor
Wetherili quickly notified the b.. A. q T..
station and Coroner Tremblay was tele-
phoned for. but he was engaged i'm taking
testimony i'm an inquest and could not
leave Immediately, and. as IL was desired
IN got tho freight train ont pf thna NlN
of an incoming passenger train, the body
was lifted OFF the rails and laid along
side the track on the trestle and the train
allowed 90 proceed.
Conductor wetherill could give no idea
as To what caused Bowen To fall beneath
the cars. as he did not know the man
was aboard and had no thought of an ac-
cident until he found the mangred form
ON the rails.
Two boys, named Lester Fitchett and
Roy Thompson, however, saw the young
man sitting on the end of one car with
his feet upon the other. apparently eating
something. just before the train broke
apart. and IL Is believed as he was not
holding on. that the jar of the train in
stopping caused him To lose his seat and
pitched him beneath the wheels. As no
one saw him fall there was no means Of
telling how many cars passed over him.
Both legs were cut off and one arm. and
as the wheels did not pass over the body
IL Is imposed he died from the shock. lie
was still breathing when found. but was
UNCONSCIOUS and died i'm a few seconds.
When the body was removed from the
rails IL was covered with a sheet pro-
cured from a nearby residence and "a num-
Der of people who congregated on learn
ing of the accident stood watch over IL
till the coroner arrived. As soon as Coro-
ner Tremblay could adjourn the inquest
he was engaged in he went To the scene.
accompanied by Deputy Sherins Evans
and Aware. After viewing the remains he
ordered the body sent to Sherman's un-
dertaking rooms.
The dead man and his soldier brother
have four sisters living i'm Butte. Mrs.
Charles q. Terrell. Mrs. Charles q. Ho-
bart, Mrs. Alexander Anderson and an
unmarried sister, Gladys Bowen. They
had all been to Silver Bow to bid their
soldier brother goodbye. and had only re-
turned to their homes when the sad news
of the other brothers death was conveyed
To them by friends.
The deceased was 20 years of age and
was born and had lived all his life in
Butte. when very young he was appren-
ticed To the Western Iron works and
learned the trade of machinist. After
completins his apprenticeship ne worked
in the various machine shops of the city
and was accounted a capable mechanic.
He was of "A pleasant. Industrious DISPOSE
tion. and was well liked. His parents for
merly conducted the Butte City hotel.
Both are now dead. Coroner Tremblay