The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-02
A Young Salt Laker Meets Death at
KaySviIle.
BRAKEMAN ON THE O. S. L.
IN SOME WAY HE FELL UNDER
THE CARS.
Accident Occurred at an Early Hour
Yesterday Morning-An Investi-
CATION By Justice Gailey-Fun-
eral VIII Take Place Today.

Kaysville, Jan. Thomas Digges, an
employee OF the Oregon Short Line.
met an awful death beneath a moving
freight train near the depot here at
80 o'clock this morning. Mr.. Digges
was rear brakeman on a north-bound
freight and as the train neared the
Kaysville depot he was sent forward
over the cars to assist in some switch
ing that was to be done. In some man
ner he fell beneath the car and was
dragged to death.
FIRST INITIATION.
The first intimation that the crew
had of an accident having befailen
their comrade was when Conductor
Buck saw the shattered. fragments OF
the unfortunate fellows lantern lying
beside the track with a faint flame
still glimmering on the wick. The train
by this time had come to Standstlll
and the conductor hurried forward to
the station and made inquiries as to
whether Digges had reached the en-
CINE. On discovering that he had not
been seen the night operator, Alex.
Thornton, hurried back along the train,
keeping a harp lookout for what he
expected would be the mangled BODY
of the brakeman.
THE BODY FOUND.
He had gone but short distance
from the station when horrifying
groans told him that the poor unfor-
tunate was not dead, but that ne was
in the throes of mortal agony, and upon
reaching the place from whence the
sounds proceeded he found the VIC
tim pinned firmly down between the
rails, his body extending lengthwise
under the car, his right arm across the
rail, and the car wheels fitted closely
UP under the shoulder. 1t is believed
that a bolt which projects an inch or
two through the brake-beam had
caught in the back of his coat and thus
he had been dragged, face downward,
a distance of near 600 feet from where
his lantern was found to where the
car finally stopped.
The train was run backward far
enough to release him and he was ten
derby lifted from the track, but the
constant grinding and crushing of the
wheel had done its work, and though it
has not passed over him, the injuries
were such that death resulted before
he could be carried to the station. He
uttered no word and it is not certain
that he was conscious. Strange to say
the body was but slightly disfigured,
and this fact has led to the belief that
he IeldlHGQ CONSCIOUSNESS "
keep his face from coming in contact
with the ground while he was being
so cruelty dragged such a great dis
lance.
BROUGHT TO SALT LAKE.
The body was placed upon the 2:4O
south bound train and was in Salt
Lake within two hours after the acct
dent
NO INQUEST.
This afternoon the Short Line Off
Gals telegraphed the county officials to
know if it was desired to hold an in
quest and the matter was referred to
Justice J. w. Galley, of this precinct.
The justice thoroughly investigated
the matter and came to the conclusion
that it would be unnecessary to hold
an inquest, unless the railway officials
desired it.
AN EXEMPLARY YOUNG MAN.
The deceased was a Single man, of
exemplary habits, and lived with his
aged parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas
Digges, 351 West Fourth South street,
this city.
The funeral will take place at the