Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1900-09-28
CAUGHT ON A TRESTLE.
Elisha Harris Knocked to His
Death on the Glasgow
Branch of the Wabash
Monday MOrning.
He Was STRUCK BY The ENGINE.

Just after No. 20 the north-bo uud
train on the Glasgow blanch of the
Wabash railway. had turned a curve
abou; one mile below Forest Green
Monday morning, Engineer T. NJ.
Purdy and Fireman Joe Metzger saw
a man about 20 It ahead crawling
about midway across a tre5tle on his
hands and knees, coming toward the
engine. 1t was too late to stop the
engine before reaching the man, and
when the engine struck him he was
knocked off the trestle to the ground
about IS feet below. A stretcher
was procured, the man picked up,
taken to Glasgow and DR.. w. NJ.
Pritchett called to see him. The
doctor realized al once that his injuries
were fatal. and advised that the victim
of the accident be taken TO Salisbury
for surgical attention as MS injuries
had been sustained in Charlton county.
Acting upon this advice the trainmen
started with the man, whose name
was Elisha Harris, for Salisbury. but
he died shortly after reaching that city
An inquest was held by DR.. G a
Jennings, coroner, at whicl the follow
Ing facts in the case were developed.
We reduce the testimony offered before
the coroner's jury, to the narrative
form:
Lee BusOy testified:
Il reside at Salisbury; occupation
conductor on the Glasgow branch; on
train No. 29 at S a. m. September FL =,
1900, l was sitting in a chair ON the
east side Of the baggage coach; l felt
the engineer put on his brake in emer
gencY, and at the same time heard
him give the danger signal whistle; the
brakeman, Mr.. Davis, was standing in
the opposite door; we were at trestle
No. 1873, one mile west of Forest
Green; the brakeman said: I'VE
have struck a man." and went out of
the back door of the baggage coach,
went on top and set brake on non-air
car behind the coach and brought the
train to stop about 100 yard west OF
the tressle; we backed the train up
and took a stretcher and pick ed the
man up and took him to Glasgow and
there had DR.. PrIthchett examine his
injuries, and was advised, as he was
resident of and was injured in Chari-
ton county, that he should returned TO
Salisbury to have his injuries attended
to as he could not be moved after
ward; DR.. Prltchett also stated that he
did not think the man could live but
few hours; the deceased did not make
any statement to me; think the man
was about IS years old, and | knew
him to be very deaf; his death was
caused from being struck By the
engine and falling about 25 feet after
the engine struck him; know the &C
cident was unavoidable on the part Of
the railroad employees"
DR.. J. H. P. Baker testified:
L reside at Salisbury; occupation
practicing physician; was notified
over the phone about 9:2o a. m.
September "a, 1900, by DR.. Prltchett
of Glasgow that man had been IN
jured and wanting me to meet him at
the depot in Salisbury and render
such services as l found indicated;
l also received a telegram from w
n. Wicks Of Glasgow making the
same request; met the train as re-
quested, but found the injured man
dying; he died a few moments
after his arrival. After describ-
ing the injuries he found on the
body DR.. Baker says: l think the
cause of his death was from injury
and shock"
Thos. Purdy testified:
II reside at Salisbury; occupation
engineer; as was going down on No.