The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-15
MET HIS DEATH
BENEATH A TRAIN
Fisherman Killed Yesterday
Afternoon.
s-----
DRAGGED SEVERAL YARDS
Died at the Hospital Gate Limbs HOg-
rlbIy MangIed- Inquest VIII
Be Held Today.

Struck by train. dragged at least
fifty feet along the track and mangled
beyond recognition. Edward Larson, a
fisherman. now lies in the city morgue.
According to the stories Of those who
witnessed the affair. Larson was stand
ing near the track Of the Astoria &
Columbia River railroad across from
the Parker uouse yesterday afternoon
about 4 o'clock. When the train from
Seaside. in charge OF Conductor Blue,
Engineer Stephens and Fireman Dure
Gwathney. came along. Larson dellber-
ately walked TO the side Of the track
and fell In front Of the approaching
train. As he fell he threw his arms
about his face and was struck by a
tank car that was being pushed before
the engine. He was dragged across
the street-cr0ssing and out onto the
trestle before Engineer Stephens could
stop.
When the train was brought to a
standstill. Larson was under the rear
wheels Of the front truck on the left
side Of the engine, Conductor Blue had
the engine packed up and, with the ass
slstance Of Charles corbo, who clawled
along the trestle under the engine.
Larson was pulled from between the
wheels. ami laid out on the sidewalk.
During the time he lay under the
engine crowds Of people crowded up
to obtain a sight Of him and then
turned away. sick at the sight.
His life blood was trickling down be-
tween the ties and dropping into the
water The right shoe was floating
about in the bloOdtainted river.
After being drawn from beneath the
train. Larson was made as easy as
possible by DR.. Fulton. who arrived
on the scene a few moments after the
accident He was yet breathing, but
family. A transfer wagon was sum-
moned and the unfortunate man remov-
ed to the hospital. but when he arrived
there he was beyond all earthly aid.
As an attendant came out with a
stretcher Larson was breathing his
last. DR.. Fulton motioned that the
stretcher was not needed.
The body was lhen taken to the
morgue. where Coroner Pohl took
charge of it. The clothing was ripped
from the body and the extent OF the
mans injuries ascertained. The left leg
from the ankle to the hip was man
gled so badly that the skin had burst,
and the muscles were laid bare. The
right was nothing but shapeless mass
OF flesh and bone. A bolt had pene-
trated the flesh of the left hip to a
depth OF several inches. The left arm
was broken at the elbow, while the
head and body was badly bruised and
torn.
In the pockets of the clothing, the
following articles were found; A ticket
from Astoria to Kalama, dated
August 1S, briar pipe, a razor. and
constitution and bylaws Of both the
Fishemen's Protective Union and the
Sailors Union. The former contained a
receipt for initiation fee, dated May Is,
1900, while in the latter was a memor-
andum. stating that the deceased
thought of going to Europe. Two dol
lars and few cents in silver were
also found.
That Larson's. death was not acci-
dental those who saw the affair are
fully convinced. A colored man nam
ed ]. Curtis crossed the track in front
of the approaching train and noticed
Larson standing against the railing
along the sidewalk. AS he passed
Larson he noticed that he intended
walking in front of the train and turn
ed to call to him that the train was
approaching. but before he could ut
ter sound he say the man fall be-
meath the wheels. Many others were
eye witnesses and all are of the opin-
ion that he courted death, but for what
reason no one knows.
Coroner Pohl win impanel a jury and
hold an inquest over the remains this
CHINESE REFOPNTEp rATLS