The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-02
CROWD IN
THE CAR
On Campaign Excursion Train
Results In a MassillOn
Mans Death.
CAME TO A SUDDEN END.
Fell From the Platform and Was
Ground Beneath Wheels.
CAUSE REMAINS A MYSTERY


CAUSE REMAINS A MYSTERY
Companions Say he Was Sitting Comfort
ably ON II Step and Was Not Pushed
oE--Was Leader OF the Masslllon
military Band-sad Sequel
to Norgan's Froiic.
"What was that," we're the words
that man shouted as he felt some
thing pull al him and saw Il black
streak Of something fall off the step Of
car on which ne was sitting about ]
oclocll Tuesday morning, on the Penn
sylvania railway near Stark Siding.
The next second there was heard by
the men on the car platform crunch
ing sound anu several distinct Jars, as
If the car wheels were going over some
pieces OF gravel upon the track. 1t was
all over IN second but the passengers
VINO felt the jolting of the car knew
that some one Of their number had gone
to his death and had been ground TO
pieces.
The next minute Joe Hurford, Can
ton man, member of Thayer's Military
hand, said, Boys, that was Joe Ess."
1t proved to be the truth.
Joseph Ess, leader of the Massillon
Military band, had dropped off the step
OF the car and found death under the
wheels, after which his body had been
dragged over portion of q bridge and
had fallen into the water below. The ac-
cident was peculiar one, inasmuch
. as no one can say what caused the man
to fall.
Mr.. Ess took his band from Massllon
to Alliance Monday night to take part
in the Republican celebration at that
place on the evening named. The train
was overloaded and passengers were
, compelled TO stand on the platform
going 20 Alliance.
Three trains carried the people to
Alliance and the same number We're to
bring them back. The first train left
Alliance. at 80 with as many passen-
gers as could
FIND STANDING ROOM.
The second section pulled into the
station and on account of the confusion
some of the crowd understood there was
to be no third section. The result was
that the second section was loaded till
even standing room could not be found.
Men hung on the steps and there were
remarks made before starting the train
] that some one would get hurt before
r Canton was reached, but the train went
rahead with It's precious burden. Every
: thing went along safely. however. till
the first stop which was made at Louis
sviile. At this station quite number
gof passengers were unloaded and the
train was not in such a crowded con-
Ydition after the Louisville people got
soft. II was at this place that Joe Ess
twas first seen by the men who finished
athe fatal ride with him. He had been
riding on the platform of the head
,, oach from Alliance to Louisville but
when the stop was made there, he
istepped down to the ground and walk
ed back the. length of couple of cars.
ne WAS uENOSltu ny w VI
Massillon, who asked him where he was
riding. He said "he was hanging on up
above" Mr. Ertle told him there was
room for another on that step and Joe
stepped up and sat down on the second
step of the platform, resting his feet on
the lower step He sat on the front end
Of the car beside a man who sat next
4 to the body 0fdthe car. Ess was sitting
nnext to the, iron railing at the end
There was not much talking done after
sleaving Louisville by those
SITTING ON THE PLATFORM
on account '6fSthe noise made by the
rushing train -'The train was making
good time apd, d,everything was running
nicely until after the engineer had call
I'd the whistle signal for Stark Siding.
Getting the. proper signals the train
pulled forward at a rapid rate. When
the car on which Ess was sitting started
across the little bridge at the siding,
the man sitting at his side felt himself
being dragged off the steps. He hung
to the iron rods and saw Ess go over the
side of the step and then realized that
he had barely escaped the same fate.
The train was not stopped till 1t reached
Canton where the train crew were in
formed Of the accident and telegraphed
back for the third section to look for
the injured man. The engine was un-
coupled from the train and started for
Stark Siding. The traces of blood
could be found on the bridge. but for a
long time the body could not be located.
After search OF over an hour the body
was found In the creek by parties who
were using o pole for the purpose
of discovering IL possible the location
of the dead man. The third section of
the train reached Stark Siding shortly
after the arrival Of the light engine
from the second section, and every one