The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-21
Hit By Train at Poplar
Street Crossing.
MAY RESULT IN HER DEATH.
Mrs. Sarah CritchIey Is the Victim OF
a Milwaukee Passenger; Skull
Is Fractured.

From SATURDAYS Daily.
What is it feared may prove to be a
fatal accident occurred on the Poplar
street crossing of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & St. Paul road at l0:l5 O'Clock
this forenoon. Mrs. Sarah Critchley, an
aged resident of Cummings addition, at
tempted to cross the track ahead OF
the northbound passenger train and was
struck by the engine and hurled several
feet and sustained very serious injuries.
She was taken to her home. 2l5 Poplar
street, and physicians were summoned
and arrived in Il very short time.
Mrs. Critchley's in uries consisted of
fracture of one bone of the right arm
below the elbow, and flesh wound as
large as a mans hand on the arm, the
fracture of the eighth and tenth ribs on
the right side, and cash in the top OF
her head, to the bone, requiring a stitch
to close it. Worst of all, it is feared
that there may be injury to the pelvis
and fracture of the skull at the base
OF the brain. The latter is Indicated
bv bleeding of one ear If Us frac-
ture exists, recovery will be impossible
and death will result in few days.
Even without the injury, Mrs. Critchley
would probably never fully recover, ow-
ing to her age, which is eighty four
years.
Mrs. Critchley started from her home
to go to the business section. and was
seen by her next door neighbor, Mrs.
Henry Devans, as the train approached.
The train was not going very fast, and
Mrs. Critchley, who had stopped Just
before reaching the track, appeared to
be undecided what to do, but the next
instant seemed to have decided to cross
the track ahead of the train, seemingly
thinking that she had time Before she
got across she was struck. She was not
rendered entirely unconscious, although
stunned. When it was proposed that she
be taken to hospital, she objected,
and insisted that she be taken to her
house and this was done. She may be
taken to a hospital this afternoon, how
ever, as the, conyeniences for her treat I
ment there will be much better.
The train was the one that is due
to ;arrive in Mankato at 9:55 a. m..a but
was, a few moments late. 1t was in
charge of Conductor Thomas Heating,
and Engineer Brooks was at the throttle.
The latter noticed a woman approach
ing the crossing at Poplar street. and
saw that she stopped, then went ahead,
hesitated again, and then attempted to
cross. At first he thought that there
was no danger, as the woman seemed to
take notice of the train, but when she
hesitated and then started to cross he
saw that she had misiudged the distance
and speed of the train, and applied the
brakes, but could not stop the train be-
fore it struck her. 1t is said that the
usual signals were given upon approach
ing the crossing.
Mrs. Critchley's husband died some
years ago, and she has no children but
she is a sister of Robert Grice of Bel
grade. She has been resident of Man
kato for fortysiX years. and is mem
Der of the Presbyterian church. She was
born i'll England, and was nurse in a
prominent family there for a time. She
possessed q beautiful character. Al
though not having very much of this
worlds goods, she has been noted for
her charitable actions, and her chief am
bition has always seemed to be to make
others happy. She has taken boarders
for many years, and thus gained live
llhood Her many friends sincerely re-
greet her misfortune and hope that she
may be spared. A number of neighbors
lent their aid today in caring for her.
Mrs. Critchley stated after the accl-
dent that she did not see the train COM
ing. but she was in such dazed con-
dition that the physicians thought that
she was not entirely responsible for
what she was saying. A boy also saw
the accident and confirmed the other
reports.
The council a short time ago had the
matter of the protection of pedestrians
at the Poplar and Minnesota street
crossings under consideration and in
structed City Attorney Daley to notify
both the Milwaukee and Great Western
roads to have flagmen or brakemen Oh
other person stand on the cross,ay to
warn people of the approach of trains
The roads have the matter under advise
ment. They replied that they would
like to talk the matter over with the
city officials, as they did not think it
necessary to station a Haoman at tho