Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-20
HEAD Is SEVERED
Albert Campbell, Rock Island
Switchman, Meets
Terrible Fate.
RUN DOWN BY AN ENGINE
Mangled Body Found Fifteen Feet
From Where He Was Struck
Inquest Held.
RUN DOWN BY AN ENGINE

Rock Island railroad yards were the
scene of a tragic accident at O'Clock
last night. when Albert Campbell met
death by being run over by an engine.
At the cOrOner's inquest held this
morning several Of the men of the
switching crew TO which Mr.. Camp
bell belonged testified. The statement
Of y. W. CoCns was as follows: The
switch foreman notified Al to line up
the lead switch for an approaching
train that was coming into the yards.
When Mr.. Campbell had done this he
sat his lantern down on the ground
and turned to watch the oncOming
train into the yards, with his back to
the east main. The engine Of passen-
ger train No. was backing. light, to
Natick on the east main. After we
had switched few cars, Mr.. Bushno,
the fOreman's assistant. said: I won
der what has become Of Al? l think
something must have happened to
him. Seeing his lantern still sitting
on the ground. Mr.. Bushno, myself
and several others walked back to
where it was. when we discovered the
head of Al - feet away on the inside
of the rails. We later found his man
gled body Is feet from the head on
the outside Of the rails
Sight CHASTITY One.
Charles Gillespie was the next to
testify. Gillespie is a switch tender
at the Thirty-eighth street switch He
sai,i: Mr.. Coons and | were doing
some switching below the shanty and
on coming back we noticed train
pulling into the ward from the east,
and / walked up to the west main
switch to line it up for the oncoming
train, when at the switch | noticed
AIS lantern sitting on the ground.
then walked back to the Shanty. and
ON not finding Al | thought that he
had gone away for Il short time; but
when he did not return. we grew
alarmed. and Mr.. Bushno. Mr.. CoOns
ana / started up the track to where
the lantern was sitting. When we
were within a few feet of ii we saw
CHASTITY sight. 1t was the head Of
man. and on making an examination
we found it to be the head of Camp
bell. We then found the body Il or
IS feet to the east of the head. on the
outside of the rails. 1t is my opinion
that after he threw the switch for
the westbound train, he stepped back
to clear it, and in doing so stepped
over the east lead and was run over
by the engine of passenger train No.
81, that was backing. light, to Natick."
Ten Days With Company.
Mr.. Campbell was employed but 10
days ago by the railroad company.
He was born in South Rock Island
Aug. 10. 1876. He was the son of
Thomas Campbell. the eX-county
treasurer. Besides his wife and par
ents, he leaves four brothers and two
sisters. John. Samuel. Charles and
VIII. and Mrs. j. G. Huntoon and Miss
Alice Campbell.
The inquest was conducted at the
Knox Undertaking rooms, the jury.
composed of Dr. C. T. Foster. fore
man: q. W. Sample, NJ. NJ. Briggs. W.
l.. Bruner. c. p. Ohaver and John Fitz-
patrick, returning a verdict that al
bert Campbell came to his death by
Eein" run over by engine No. $40 east
bound in the Rock Island yards near
Thirt Y-eighth street near the hour Of
sos on the 10Th of February. 1904"