The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-13
He DIED IN
AWFUL AGONY
J. |. DiyeIbeSS is Crushed to
Death Between Cars
ON SOUTH SANTA FE AVE.
Was Working for Cement
Sidewalk Contractor.
HAD BEEN HERE ONE YEAR
Lived Hour to Suffer Untold
MiSerieS.
HAD BEEN HERE ONE YEAR

Mr.. J. L. Divel5ess, a laborer Of this
: city, was killed yesterday morning by
being caught between the bumpers Of
two freight cars as the latter crashed to-
gether. The accident occurred on the
Santa Fe railroad, about 400 feet north
of Kellogg street. a little after 8 o'clock.
Mr. Divelbess, In attempting to cross
the tracks, was caught. crushed and
reeled from underneath the wheels. only
to die an hour later in ag0nizing pain.
BIS cries OF distress could be heard for
blocks as he lay on the ground. sur
rounded by one friend and strangers.
He never for second lost consciousness
ana cried out over and over again: I'm
dying I'm dyiag' After a little while
his cries died into means and as the
shock wore of a little. he sought his
fellow workman. Mr. Peter Jason with
ms weakened yet steady voice and said:
Pete, saw il. 1 saw the engine but
thought II was going on the other
trace. Then the diving man wauel
out that his side was becoming p3r--
lyzed. As the ambulance drew near.
MT. Jason asked him if he had any
particular Place 20 which he would ike
70 be taken. As il semi-conscious. he
replied. Il don't know" His last words
being lifted into the ambulance. and
were: Pete. old boy. set the doctors"
ana MS voice was piUful ia its plead
ing The ambulance bore him away TO
the Wichita hospital. bat when the destI-
nation was reached he was dead
The deceased has been a resident Of
Wichita for the last year. having come
here from Off farm IN the northeastern
part Of the state. where his father lives
lie vas man Of medium stature and
IS said by his friends 70 be at least %
years old A letter was found on his
person. sealed. and with this address
upon It; Sarah DiveIhliss, 1904 Con-
necticutt street. Lawrence Kansas" TO
this address message was sent 10y the
coroner Yesterday afternoon and one re-
celved from john Dive bliss a brother
20 the dead man. requiring that the body
be embalmed To await the brothers. ar
rival here this morning Coroner AIcCol-
lister says that when the brother ar
rives. he VIII decide as to the matter Of
an inquest.
Mr.. Peter Jason who was the only
person that saw the fatal accident. said
TO a reporter for the Eagle: This man
and have worked together for Mr..
Bulla, the cement sidewalk contractor,
FOR long time and be was the best
Kidd Of fellow. We had put down
walk On Ida avenue. q couple Of blocks
above Kellogg street and were moving
our outfit John. the deceased was
walking. rs the load was heavy and as
We had 10 go down To Kellogg to take
our stun over on Water and Kellogg.
John took 81 cutoff
when he came to the Santa Fe tracks
saw him stop and look up the track
at swith engine. Then DE stepped be-
tween the cars A second later I saw
him reel from between the cars and stag
ger to The ground. ! ran 90 him as
quickly as / could. ell was conscious
and called me bv name whenever he
went 10 say anything re lived fun
hour after being struck. Ills suffering
was terrible. He was caught right be-
tween the abdomen and HIS back We
knew this. for we could see where ne
vomited on the bumper We rubbed him
end } could sce that he was bruised hor-
ribiy where the bumpers had clusht hirns
How he happened To DE killed was i'm
this way: There was "a string IF freight
cars on each side 81 whore d was stand 4
Ing when he looked gp the track At the
north end Of these wes the switch en-
Eino There is slight curve IN the
track up az this end ard when he looked
uD he saw tho engine tG-n this curve. .
Thinking that il had switched onto an .
other track. he started To go between
the cars that were three or four feet
onto amy other track. but scnt q couple
of cars down against the string on the
first track to the east. thar on which
John was caught.
Mr.. William N. Kendrick, an employee