Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-01-18
VICTIM Of RAILWAY
CO.'S death TRAP"
VIM. REICHERT INJURED AT.
THE COFFEE CROSSING.
Struck BY a Milwaukee Freight
About 5 O'clock Last Evening
Cash in Hedd-Side and Chest
Hurt-Spent Night in Emergency
HOSpitdl-COunCil Should Act.
(From Tuesdays Daily.D

William Reichert, a farmer resid-
ing ON the Coffee road about six miles
from the city in the town of Water
town, met with rather serious &C.
cident about 5 O'Clock last evening
and one that seems almost a miracle
that it did not cost him his life.
The scene of the accident was at
the Coffee road crossing of the c., M.
& St. P. road, one of the most dan
gerous spots IN the city. Mr.. Reich
ert was on his way home at the time
this treacherous place, he failed to
hear an approaching east-bound
freight train until he had almost
reached the track. When the train
was observed, Reichert thought he
would have time to clear the rails
before the train reached him.
He miscalculated, however, for the
engine caught the rear end of the
wagon, which was smashed to splin-
tiers, as was also the box thereon.
Mr.. Reichert, who was seated in the
front of the wagon box, was thrown to
the ground with violent force. receiv-
ing a bad wound in the back OF his
head about three inches long. His
back and chest were also somewhat
bruised. The train was stopped after
the accident and the injured man pick
ed up and taken back to the deput.
From there he was taken to Ohm
Brothers, corner of Second and Mark
ct streets, where Mr.. Reichert usual
ly ties his horses when he visits the
city.
DR.. Moulding was called and dress
ed the wounds and made the sufferer
as comfortable as possible. The doc
tor stated last evening that he did not
think the injury was a serious one,
although Mr.. Reichert was very
heavy man to take such fall, adding
that the full extent of the injury
could better be determined today
Later in the evening the gentleman
was removed to the Emergency hos
pital for the night and today he will
be taken to his home.
AS previously stated, the crossing
where the accident occurred is the
second east of the the malt house and
perhaps the most dangerous in the
city. There is not even a bell to
warn the public Of the approaching
Of trains. The fact that there are
high hills through cut On both sides
Of the track makes it impossible to
see trains coming from either dile,-
ton. 1t is about as difficult to hear
them, especially in cold weather
when people are very apt to be bun
died up. The city council some time
ago exeIted themselves TO the extent
of discussing the matter OF the dan
gerous condition of some Of the rail
way crossings, but there it has rested
and it is likely that none of the rail
way officials are any the wiser now
unless there happened to be an eve
dropper, and that is very far fetched.
1t is to be hoped that the memt ers of
the council will take their cue from
last evenings mishap and at their
this evening take determined
action and demand of the railway
companies what is due the pUbIic-a
greater degree of safety.
The gentleman who met with the
unfortunate accident last evening is a
brother of August Reichert of his
city.
Fortunately, the team was net in
jured, as far as was known, last even
ing. If they were injured, it was
not enough to prevent them from
running away and hiking out for home.