The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-20
PROBABLY SLEPT ON THE TRACK
Distressing Accident May Cost
kremlin 81 IN His Life

6ulDIlS, " l., UilG 1J.-1 ne L4Il4O w ave
says: Farmer Milan Cowles, who lives on
his farm a mile and a half south of
Kremlin, met with an accident some time
Saturday night that will probably end
his days on earth. Mr.. Cowles went TO
Krenlin Saturday evening to procure a
package of medicine at the express Of
flee and to purchase some needed family
supplies. His home is quite close to the
Rock Island railroad track, and it had
been his custom to walk to town on the
railroad track when his horses were be-
ing worked hard. He had the reputation
among his neighbors of being a very So
Der and Industrious farmer, but it ap-
pears that he took a few drinks in town
that evening and did not leave for his
hime until about II Q. m He did not
reach his home and as soon as daylight
appeared his family began to inquire
and search for him. The package of med
icine he had gone for was found on the
end of a railroad tie opposite his home
and it was taken to the house, when a
general search for the missing man was
begun.
About $50 Sunday morning Mr. Walter
Wilson, neighbor, found Cowles lying
in the tall grass and weeds on the north
side Of a fill about thirty feet north Of
where the medicine was found. The I'M
fortunate man was still alive but uncon-
scious. A terrible cash was found about
one and half inches above the ear on
the right side, extending from about two
inches from the eyebrow back over the
head about FIVE inches long, and the
cLr1l11 yrra- lad H.. 1,
brain. The grass where he laid divulgei
the fact that the unfortunate man had
struggled around considerable during the
night. but fortunately no leading or i'm
portant blood veins or arteries were cut
or he would have bled TO death. Cowles
was carried 10 the house and Doctors
Thompson and Harris Of Kremlin were
summoned to his relief The station
agent at Kremlin telegraphed for the
railroad company's physician, DR.. Fair
grieve OF this city, and the doctor very
kindly invited a Wave reporter to accom-
pany him thither.
Mr. Cowles was put under opiates while
the doctors succeeded in extracting the
small fragments Of the fractured skull
and raised the larger pieces into position
and sewed up the wound. AS the wound
ed man was unconscious and will proba-
bly, remain 50 until he dies. or is in a fair
way to recover, 1t can only be coniestured
as to just how he was hurt. but he was
undoubtedly knocked fro mthe track by
a passing train going north. Il IS thought
that in reaching the point where the
medicine was found he sat down on the
end of tie TO rest and cool himself be-
fore tneering the house He probably
Numbered over. resting his head in his
hands and fell asleep. having worked
hard all day Saturday in the harvest
field. Being accustomed to the rumbling
racket Of a passing train from living so
close to the track, the approaching train
did not waken him.
No bruises were found on his body any
where except a few that were caused by
the terrible fall he received. having been
knocked fully thirty feet from where he
was sitting alongside Of the package OF
medicine OF course, he might have been
hit by murderers or robbers but as near
" all the money he was known 70 have
was found on his person that theory
must be abandoned. The near neighbors.
including Mr. Hoag and sons. were all in
attendance. doing all they could for their
unfortunate neighbor. The wounded man
is IS years Of age, Is a widower and has
two grown children. His aged mother
keeps house for him. The sorrow Of the
family was pitiful to witness. There Is
about FIVE chances out of a hundred for
his recovery