Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-02-06
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
J. W. Brown Killed At the Main Street
Crossing Saturday Eseaing.

crossing Saturday Ese01nx.
On Friday evening last few minutes
before SIX o'clock a man named James
w. Brown. standing at the Maie stree,
crossing Of the Santa Fe railroad. was
knocked down by an incoming train and
so badly shocked and mangled that ne
died the same night Of his injuries Cor
onef Green empanneled lufy and held
an inquest at Dawley's undertaking par
lors on Monday. Summarizing the es-
ldenee taken before the Jury brings out
about the following details;
The regular ives, bound freight train
known as No. 81. was standing on the
main track. II seemed 10 be trying TO
get under way ba. the couplings failing
70 hold i started and stopped several
times. og. Was still covering the stree,
crossing. when an extra freight from the
west approached and drew in on the sid
ing nest south OF the main line. The
man Brown Was standing on the ives.
erosswal. OF the street on the south side
Of the train standing on the main line
He stood between the first siding track
and the train. with one foo. on the north
rail Of the siding track. He stood in this
position locking eastward and seemingly
Interested in the efforts Of train No. 5 70
get under way. when the other tram
drew in. He was the only waiting Pc
desITian on that side Of the stree, a, tina,
moment. although there were others on
the east sidwais and some people in se-
hieies who we're waiting for the train 70
clear the crossing and allow them TO
pass. One Of these waiting ores. and
the elsaTest witness. was Miss Bessie
Neelsy. ~Eo. standing on tho cas-; walk.
sa~ the mans danger and screamed 10
him 10 get out Of the way. But her cry
did not alarm him and the nes; instant
tho pilo, beam struck him throwing him
forward on his face on a line with tho
track. Then I, seemed that tho driving
wheels passed over his righ, arm and tho
wheel crank pounded him upon tho back
as the wheels resolyed. after which some
part Of the engine caught and dragged
and rolled and mangled him further un-
III the fingers Of tho left hand were Gu,
of and the right foo, horribly crushed.
Although the trainmen saw iha, an aeei-
dent had occurred and tho signals to stop
were promptly gwen. the train moved
the length Of tho engine and half tho
length Of ono car before !, could be
brought 10 a s;ands,ill and the man was
dragged from tho sidewalk limo To tho
street centre under tho engine wheels.
The train was no; moving at a rapid
speed all o. the witnesses agreed. no,
more than four miles an hour. and tho
marvel Is that Brown could no, have do
toctod It's presence in ;imo 10 save him
self Blu; there was much confusion Of
noises. The train on tho main track was
starting and backing. tho street gong
used as crossing alarm was changing.
tho boil on tho incoming train was ring
ing. and the attention Of tho victim was
evidently fixed on the doings Of tho train
in front Of him.
Tho injured man was taken and care
fully lifted upon a car door and carried
TO the Office Of tho city marshal. This
was done a; tho suggestion Of tho physi-
clan called. lDr. Pollock bu; who seeing
At once how serious tho mans injuries
probably were. asked to have him taken
To tho Baldwin hospital before undertake
ing 10 do anything with his wounds. An
hour later Drs. Pollock. Lawson. Sigman
and Hereford were at tho hospital and
proceeded 10 make an investigation Of
tho injuries. which they found to be Of the
serious and shocking character enuneiat-
cd above. With little hope OF the mans
survival they proceeded to dress the les
ser injuries and to amputate the right
arm at tho shoulder ioint. He lived about
six hours, dying at midnight. He was
conscious at times and left messages for
his wife and child.
Brown was the local agent Of Salem.
toregonl nursery and had been in this
vicinity for some months. He had. how
ever just completed his local canvas and
intended leaving for home in few days.
He, was member OF the order Of Wood
mon and the local lodge took care Of the
body and had it shipped to his home in
Oregon. The unfortunate man leaves a
wife and one child.
The verdict Of the jury was that the
deceased came to his death by reason Of
his attention being fully drawn to train
No. 81, which at the time was obstruct-
ing the crossing beyond the legal limit.
The tram crew of train No. 22oz were
wholly without blame. having done their
full duty.