The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-04-03
KILLED BY THE CARS
Switchmen Nelson Meets Death
in 0skaloosa Yards.

Frank Nelson, an Iowa Central
'switchman, was fatally hurt in the
south yards Of Oskaloosa shortly aft
err O'Clock Saturday evening, and
died at 10:30 O'Clock. The left leg
was mashed and all the flesh rolled
from the thigh bone. The left arm
was crushed from point near the
wrist to near the shoulder joint and
the right foot and ankle were badly
crushed.
The accident occurred at a point
near the yard Office in the vicinity
of Fifth avenue. The switch engi ne
was ba king with a single car. N j.
son was waiting to jump on the car
as it came to him. The practice Is
quite common with switchmen a I'd
they are generally quite expert in
boarding the moving cars or the en-
CINE. Nelson attempted to catch the
end of the car as it came to him but
in some way missed his footing and
went under the wheels of the car.
The two wheels of the truck passed
over the legs and the arm of the un-
fortunate man.
The engineer heard the cry of alarm
from by-standers and saw the ac-
cid mt and the engine was stopped al
most instantly. The injured switch
man was picked up and carried to
his home at the Colwell house at the
corner of B street and Third avenue.
Drs. SamiClark and j. O. Barringer,
the company surgeons, waited upon
him Immediately. 1t was seen that
the injuriesswere fatal and hence no
attempt was made at amputation.
The sufferer was given temporary
relief from his pain and the end.came
at 1890 O'Clock.
Coroner Chas. Fehlinger was sum-
homeland after a careful examina-
tion into the details of the accident
concluded that no inquest was neces.
sary. The body was prepared for in
terment and was taken to Ottumwa,
the former home, at $3.50 O'Clock
Sunday evening. The father, William
Chesser, and the brother and sister
of the widow, Dave Chesser, and
Abbie Walker, came to the city Sat
urdayl evening to take charge of the
body.E The casket was taken to the
Cheeser home in Ottumwa where the
funeral will. be held Tuesday at 2:30
p. m. Mrs. Joe Barnes accompanied
the funeral party to Ottumwa.
Frank Nelson was a young man be-
ing 80 years, months and 6 days of
age atsthe timeof his death He had
been employed in the Oskaloosa yards
about two months. He was an old
switchman and has seen service in
several parts of the country. He
came to this city from job that he
held in Pueblo, Colorado, with the
Santa Fe route and he.had seen ser.
vice with the Milwaukee. He was a
strong and active fellow and knew
the business in which he was engaged
in all it's details. He was a willing
worker, and although he had been in
the city but short time he had won
the esteem and the good will of all
who came in contact with him by his
cheerful ways, frank disposition and
yet business-like demeanor,
The accident occurred a few
moments after the engine had been
changed from the day to the night
crews. Pete tQuackenbush and young
White had given the engine over to
Bert Haworth and Ferguson and these
men we're frustrating upon the even
ing's work when the unfortunate &C.
cident occurred.
Nelson is the seventh Iowa Central
employe to be killed or fatally injured
in accidents since February Is.