The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-17
BOY STEPPED IN
FRONT OF TRAIN
Russell PIatts Is Killed by Short
Line Engine.
He NET AN INSTANT DEATH
FOOT SLIPPED WHEN BE TRIED
TO GET OFF THE TRACK

! u USsELL PLATTS. years old.
II living near Calder's park. was in
stantIy killed by a Short Line
passenger train near Becks Hot
Springs yesterday afternoon. The lad
was watching a race between the
Short Line and the Rio Grande trains,
and uncOnsciOusly stepped on TO the
track i'm front of the Short Line engine.
In an effort to jump out of the way
he fell and was struck by the pilot %
the engine. His head was crushed
The accident occurred about 4:oO yes
teTday afternoon Earlier in the day
Russell and his elder brother, David
who is y years of a &c. went 10 Seek $
70 have a swim in the big pools. After
their bath they were playing about tne
railroad tracks IL was just about the
time that the two trains from Ogden
pass the springs on their way 70 this
city. The tracks parallel each other,
and the trains. as IS the custom, en-
gagged in a little racing.
The boys saw the trains coming ana
Immediately became enthusiastic tJ
see which was going TO get ahead. The
Rio Grande train gained a little, and
in the excitement IL is supposed Russell
stepped or the track directly in front
Of the Short Line train
Skull Was Crushed.
His attention, It is believed. vas so
engaged upon the trains that he did
not know he was standing on the
track. His brother called 10 him as
he saw his danger. The little lad re-
allied his peril just as the engine
rushed down upon him. He turned and
made an effort 10 jump from the track
but his foot caught IN some way he
fell. and as he did so his head was
thrown back across the rail. The pilot
Of the engine struck him and the skull
was crushed. The rest Of his body
esca ped without injury TO speak Of
The engineer Abel Priest had al
ready reversed his engine and the train
was brought to a stop in short dis
lance. A number Of people on the
train saw the accident and in a mo-
meut the passengers were out on the
ground looking for the lad. expecting
To see his body torn TO pieces Brake
man William Wheeler found the body
lying near the track. It had been iifte1
and thrown several feet by the engine
The mCtilated remains were picked
UP and placed in the baggage car AMI
brought TO this city For some time
the name Of the boy was not known.
but Coroner F II. Clark was notified
and inquiry brought out the identity
OF the unfortunate boy
Train Close TO Him.
Those who saw the accident say the
lad did not step on the track lntil the
train was so close upon him that u
was impossible 10 stop il before he was
struck Engineer Priest saws he re-
veTsed his lever the instant he saw the
boy on the track, and blew the whistle,
hUt it was Impossible TO avert the RE-
Cident. The train. which was No =
was in charge of Conductor James Ca
hoon.
After the body was brought to the
city and the coroner had been notified,
it was removed to an underta ker's and
word of the sad accident was sent to
the parents Of the lad They WEI e al
most Frustrated with grief when tley
learned of their boys death
Judge Clark stated last night that as
yet he had not had an opportunity to
fully Investigate the case, and could
not say at present whether an inquest
would be held II is probable though.
that one will be called today.