The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-03

it's motion had been stopped the
weight of the bodies of the unto tunate
men, WitherS was dead. The b hes on
the right side of the chest han been
crushed and his back probably broken
There was also a slight confusion on
the point of the chin. Deweese was
frightfully mangled, a car wheel having
passed over his waist and the left arm
being caught near the elbow and held
until the car was lacked up and the
dying man removed. The right lie of
his head and face were also so fet A-fully
crushed that he was almost unrecogniz-
able by his relatives. He was placed on
a stretcher and was to have been taken
to the hospital, but died before 1t was
reached and the body was sent to the
undertaking rooms of DeMoSS & Pen
we'll WitherS was taken to the waiting
room of the depot and after futile eff
forts at restoring life were made, the
remains were taken to the home which
he had left less than two hours before
Withers left the house after supper
where after taking a bath he went to
Collins barber shop on East Fourth
street. He and Furman, after being
shaved. started home together
At No. track switch engine had
pulled in a string of freight cars, and
on account of the coupling repeatedly
breaking there was several minutes de-
lay. During the time that WitherS and
F'urman We're waiting for the way to be
opened Deweese and the others Joined
them. Withers stepped forward and
when they started moving and he re-
turned to his place with the rest in the
middle Of the track. on the west At
this instant refrigerator car which
had been Kicked" by another switch
engine down from the north side of the
crossing struck the men, knocked them
down and dragged them a length OF
itself when it stopped. Other parties
who had been waiting on either side of
the obstruction for the way to be clear
ed at once FASTENED to the rescue, drag
ged the men from under the car and
hastily summoned physicians. F'urman
was dazed for little while but recOv-
cred consciousness in time to pull With
erS from the track and with the assist
ance of others carried him to the pas
senger depot At first it was thought
he was not seriously hurt; his clothing
was not soiled and there was no loss of
blood. But he was dead when taken
out.
After the wheels of the heavy car had
been raised Deweese was released, but af-
ter a few struggles he expired.
ago, only son of Mr.. and Mrs. p. S. With
ers. with whom he was living at the time
of the accident He came to Topeka in
1888 with his parents and shortly after
ward went to work IN the Sixth 1S ayenS ne
went out on the road as member of a
paint gang of which his father was fore
remaining until about four years ago.
when he began switching in Topeka yards.
He leaves, besides his father and mother.
a widow, having been married little less
than a year. He was member of the To-
cal order Of the switchmen,s Union Of
North America erica carrying 8 200 o. Insurance
Pythias No. % of this place.
Rev. W J. Hatfield of the Third Presby7
services at the home Tuesday afternoon at
o'clock.
Walter Deweese was comparatively a
stranger in Topeka. having arrived here
only about two months ago from Weston.
o. He was cousin of r. B. Ford. fore
man of the Santa Fe lumber yard. He
was also IS years old and was single He
was a timer by trade and before coming
west was in the service of the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad. He was member of the
Third Christian church of this city. His
parents are dead but he has six brothers
living near the town of Weston and they
have directed that the body be shipped
there burial.
An inquest was begun at O'Clock this
morning at the undertaking rooms of Lee
moss & Penwe1.