Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-20
Burlington Brakeman Injured at
Charlton Yesterday.
SQUEEZED UNDER A BRAKEBEAM
Frank L. Gabbert, of l24 South Cherry
Street, Narrowly Escaped Hor.
rible Death = Thought He
Had Thrown Switch.
From fridays Daily.


Frank L. Gabbert, a Burlington
brakeman of No. 1874 South Cherry
street, was knocked down by freigha
train at Charlton yesterday shortly raf-
ter noon and narrowly escaped instant
death. As it was he was severely
bruised and badly squeezed by the
brake-beam of the first car. He was
brought to this city about o'clock
yesterday afternoon ON special and
his injuries examined. 1t was found
that no bones were broken and it is
not thought that he is injured inter-
nally. Mr.. Gabbert was seen at his
home today and gave the following
version of the accident:
Our freight train, No. SO, had pulled
onto the side1rack at Charlton to allow
No. 6 to pass. The sidetrack was far
too short for our train and we uncoup-
led part OF it and pulled over to an
other SIDE track. After No. had
passed we pulled down onto the main
tack and started back to the other
switch where the remainder of our
| train was standing. just before the
train come to the switch. my attention
| was attracted to some people who were
attempting to cross the track and in
the temporary excitement forgot to
| throw the switch or rather thought
had thrown it. / walked up the main
track to point about opposite where
| the remainder of our train was on the
switch and was holding my hands out
stretched as signal for the engineer
to slow up, thinking. of course, that
| the train would leave the main track
at the switch and couple onto the part
we had left. At this place there is
quite curve and I took the main
track in order that the engineer might
see my signals. The train followed
! me up the main track, the switch not
having been thrown, and when nearly
opposite the remainder of the train
the bumper on the front car struck
me in the back; throwing me to the
/ ground. The brake-beam on the first
truck struck me, rolled me over and
over, tore my clothing, and squeezed
me fearfully. / know when came te
the next brakebeam, but nothing after
that and do not know the number OF
cars that passed over me. The fire
man had in the meantime gotten of
4 the engine and was ahead of me or
the track. He signalled the engineer
to stop, otherwise l do not suppose
would be here now. fell with my
hands outstretched and it is a wonder
to me how it happened that they were
not cut off. have been thru enough
TO kill four men in one way and an
other, but this last experience do no
care to have repeated
Mr. Gabbert was taken from under
Il the car and was able to walk shorl
distance but the shock was too much
for him. He was pun on way car
an engine brought into requisition ant
he was conveyed to his home in OF
tumwa and is now under the care o!
DIR. A. O. Williams. An examination
of his injuries revealed the fact tina
the right side of his head is bruised a:
was his right shoulder and hip and lef
leg but it is not thought that he il
injured internally.
When it is considered that the space
beneath the bottom of the brakebean
to the ground is only six to eight
inches, Mr.. Gabbert's escape may b'
considered as, providential occur
renee. The top of his cap which HI
wore had a small crease in it where
the wheels had passed over fold il
the top of it, and his overalls were
torn off. Mr.. Gabbert does not know
how far he was dragged by the brake
beam, but thinks that no more thar
one pair of trucks passed over him. I
is source of much wondermentsto Mr.
Gabberc how he escaped horribl
I1aa +1, 4s4s95 SIS 7sg 4i.S f99 g. Il