The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-09
NORTHERN PACIFIC SWlTcHMAN
SUSTAlNS FATAL INJURIES.
RUN OVER BY THREE CARS
Edward Wolf Falls Victim to Acct
dent Apparently Due to Own
HeedIessness.

Semi-conscious and suffering the
most frightful agony, Edward Wolf,
a Northern Pacific switchman, was
taken to the Office of the company
physician, Doctor Armstrong, yester-
day afternoon by his fellow switch
men in the vain hope that surgical
skill might avail in saving his life.
The hope was futile and several hours
afterward the unfortunate man died,
the injuries he had received were too
great for science to overcome.
Three loaded flatcars had passed
over him and all that could be done
was to lessen his agony and prolong
the glimmer of life that still remained
in him.
Slipped and Fell.
Wolf had thrown a switch in the
west end of the yard to permit an
engine to back string of cars onto
the main line for transfer to the Bur-
lingtOn yards and for some reason at
tempted to pass in front of the cars,
which were backing toward him. At
the place where he tried to cross
the track was icy and he slipped and
fell. Being unable to arise in time
to escape, the threw his body partial
ly clear of the track, only one side
remaining on the rail. Because OF the
position in which ne was, the men on
the locomotive were unable to see
him and three cars passed over him.
Just as the engine was about to hit
him he was observed and the train
stopped. He was picked up and placed
on one Of the cars and brought to
the passenger station, where he was
taken off and carried to the doctors
Office.
Operation Was Impossible.
DR.. Armstrong summoned Doctor
Baxter to his assistance. Stimulants
were administered and an effort was
made. to revive the man in order that,
if possible, he might be operated up
on, as the condition in which he then
was precluded all possibility of at
tempting an operation. The string OF
cars had passed over the top OF the
left thigh, shattering the bones and
mangling the flesh beyond description.
So weakened was he that he could
not stand the strain of being removed
to the hospital and was kept at the
office until about o'clock. By this
time the stimulants administered had
taken sufficient effect to enable his
removal and he was taken to st. Vim
cents, but it was apparent that he
would not survive and no operation
was attempted. About 7o'clocS the
end came.
Wolf was about 27 or % years of
age, unmarried, and had been employ
ed in the local yards of the company
for the last two or three years. 70
some of the men who worked with
him he said that his home was at
Cleveland, O., where it is believed
his mother lives.
May Hold No Inquest.
Doctor Rinehart. the coroner, said
this morning that from inquiries he
| had made he did not think it was
| necessary to hold an inquest, as it
was manifest that no one was to
| blame for the accident, it having been
| purely unavoidable, so far as any
culpability or negligence of anybody,
| except the unfortunate himself, was
concerned. He stated, however, that
| he would inquire further and if any
thing transpired to give reason for
believing otherwise he would order
an inquiry and conduct it this even
| ing.