The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1900-04-06
AN OMAHA ACCIDENT
An Engine and Passenger Car COllided
on the Omaha Tuesday and Both
Were Disabled.
Brakeman Gill Was Caught by the Foot
Between Them and Held for
Thirty Minutes.
Juvenile Band Gave a Fine Concert Last
Friday Might Assisted by
Local Musical Talent.
ACCIDENT ON OMAHA ROAD.
Brakeman Gill Had His Foot Crushed
Which Necessitated Amputat-
ion Below the Knee.

An unfortunate accident occurred en-
the Omaha road at 11:15 Tuesday by
which A. W. Gill, brakeman, had his
foot and part of his leg badly crushed.
At this hour the train crew goes to
work to make up its train for the de-
parture for Sioux Falls at ll:45. The
manner in which the accident happened
was trifle peculiar and one not having
seen it would hardly understand the
situation. The crew was attempting to
make what is known in railroad par
lanc as Norwegian switch. The en-
gine was backing down the track with
five cars in front of it, the combination
passenger being next to the engine.
The engine had got the cars under fast
motion on the main track and some
distance east of the depot it cut loose
from the cars and ran back past the
switch. 1t stopped in front of the de-
pot and then was to run on to the
switch, permitting the train to pass it
on the main track. And there is whore
the accident occurred. Engineer
Bishop, who is counted one OF the most
careful engineers on the road, started
his engine for the switch and had got
half way over it when the passenger
car crushed into it, The engineer
pluckily stood by his engine even
though it looked exceedingly danger
Gus for him to do 30. The FIVE cars had
gained, evidently, more momentum
than was thought for and came dowr
the main track altogether too fast te
permit the engine to escape on the
switch. Brakeman Gill was standing
on the end of the car and had set the
brake but it had little effect in stopping
the speed of the train. When the crash
came for some reason he failed to jump
although he had plenty OF time tt
make his escape from the disaster
which followed.
The engine pilot plowed beneath the
car and threw it from the track abou
foot, and the ponderous machine wa,
imbedded in the wreck. Mr.. Gill;
foot was caught between the head o
the pilot and the beam beneath tht
car. With heroic fortitude the poo
man stood in that position for 81
minutes before he was released from
his agony and pain. Owing to th'
engine being diseabled by the break
ing of the steam cylinder on one side
it was impossible to move it and tn,
car was equally impossible OF moving
Six horses were hitched to the end o
the tender but they made not the leas
impression on it. Jackscrews wer,
finally placed on the pilot Of the engin
and against the car and in this way tn
two were separated sufficiently to per
nit OF the unfortunate man being take
out of the vice in which he was hold
On the interior Of the car the end VA
cut away hoping to realease the ma
in this way but it was Of NO avail
After releasing Mr.. Gill from the O.
he was placed on . dray by tende
bands and taken to the Office of DR.. 3
A. Bsbb. The physician saw that an
putatioa was necsssary - the foot an
portion OF the leg were badly crushed
Assisted by DR.. R. c. Warns DR.. Bob
amputated the leg about four inehe
below the knee.
The injured man lives at Sioux Fal
and his relatives were at once notifie
, of the accident. The company notiie
Agent Wilt to secure the services of
physician on learning Of the acciden
Engineer Bishop went to work afte
dinner to clear up what he could OF tt
wreck. The engineer stated that /