The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-19
KILLED BY A FAST TRAIN
CHARLES BRENDEL MEETS DEATH
IN MOUNT JACKSON.
He Was on His Way from New Cas-
tile, Ind, to Charleston, ILL.,
Death Was Sudden.

Charles Brendel, young man on his way
from New Castle, Ind. to Charleston. ILL.,,
was instantly killed last night at Harris
avenue and the Big Four tracks, in Mount
Jackson. Brendel was sitting on top of the
fence at the cattle guard presumably
asleep when the fast st. Louis express
train, west bound, struck him. He fell as
the train struck the cattle guard and was
knocked about one hundred feet. He was
found short while after by two boys
Leslie Craig, 4Ol Warman avenue, and
Clarence Neigh, 306 Harris avenue. They
saw Brendel half reclining against a tree
trunk in the shadow of the street. Craig
said he suggested to Neigh as they passed
the crossing that they see who the man
was sitting over in the dark. Neigh pro-
tested, saying he thought it was some
drunken man. Craig insisted upon an in
vestigation. One glance at the man told
them he was dead. They ran to the train
dispatcher's office a short distance away
and told Frank Kirkland. The City Dis
pensary ambulance was called and con-
veyed Brendel to the city morgue.
kirkland, the train dispatcher, said Bren-
del had been talking with him not
more than ten minutes before the express
train passed. He said the man walked into
the place and asked him when the next
train west was due Kirkland said the
young man appeared bright, and although
dressed commonly, did not have the marks
of a tramp. He said Brendel became con-
genial and sat for some time conversing
about his trips. Brendel told him that he
had been employed at New Castle as
broom maker until Saturday night. He said
he was on his way to Charleston, Ill. where
he intended TO work in broom factory.
4 mo or ha a.Db q,
express train Brendel went outside to
await its coming. Kirkland paid no more
attention to Brendel. He saw him walk
over TO the south side of the track and
climb on the fence at the cattle guard He
thinks Brendel fell asleep on the fence at
once. The train ran past Harris street at
1882. Kirkland said il must have been run
ming at the rate OF fifty miles an hour
When he was informed that a man was
killed he identified him as the one that was
talking with him short while before and
came to the conclusion that Brendel was
asleep. AS the train hit the wooden cattle
guard it's weight Jared the fence. throw
ing Brendel in front Of the train, kirkland
thought.
When Brendel was picked up by DIT
Goodwin, of the City Dispensary staff.
slight cash was found on the back of his
head. The skull was not fractured Bren-
dels clothes. face and hair were covered
with dust. his coat was torn into shreds
his trousers were torn and his right arm
was broken His name could not be learned
until he was brought TO the morgue. BIZ
cycle Policemen Morgan and SimOns. who
accompanied the ambulance, found a
pocketbook which contained 50. In one Of
the inside pockets OF the coat were found
a number of letters and meal tickets. One
of the letters was addressed 10 Mrs Bren-
del. Evansville Ind. This letter Is thought
TO have been addressed to his mother The
punched meal tickets found belonged 10
boarding house on Broad street in New
Castle. Ind. There was also another letter
in his pocket addressed 10 Charles Brendel
and written from the Charleston Qll)
Broom Company. Il was in answer 10 one
he had evidently sent 10 the company ask
ing for work.