The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-10-11

A FATAL ACCIDENT UPON THE
RAPID-NiYsTIC LINE LAST
THURSDAY.
Nine-Year-Old Mary Platt Loses Her
Lifc-Others Severely Injured.

A head-end collision between the
eastbound Crouch Lines motor car
and the rear end of the regular
freight, occurred last Thursday af-
ternoon about 4:30 o'clock The
collision occurred near. McGee's mill
west of this city, and resulted in the.
death of Mary Platt, aged nine
years, and the serious injury of the
following persons:
List of Injured.
MARY PLATT-Aged nine years,
left leg crushed; later amputated
above the knee; left arm broken.
Died at 1880 Friday morning.
GEORGE PLATT, aged eight
years, double fracture right leg be-
low knee.
GEORGE JONES, Carthage, ILL.,,
scalp wound
R. w. DAY, Silver City, double
fracture of leg.
e. L. HURLBUT, Rapid City, legs
badly wrenched; face cut.
FRANK MCMAHON, Rapid City
fingers crushed.
The motor was in charge of e. L.
Hurlbut; Conductor Beebe and En-
gineer johnson had the freight
The accident was rendered the
more appalling from the fact that
those most severely injured were
of tender years, or past the more
vigorous stage of life.
McGee's mill is situated fourteen
miles north and west of Rapid City,
and either side is q sharp curve.
The motor, eastward bound, was
rounding the curve to the west of the
station, and owing to the growth of
weeds, the freight was unseen by
the motorman until he was close up
on it.
The motorman applied his brakes,
but in vain-the momentum of his
car on the steep incline, owing to
slippery rails on new track was too
great for resistance and the motor
-''skated' into the train with tre-
nlendous force, being all but de-
molished by the compact, crushing
its passengers beneath the debris,
Few Conveniences.
The train crew and men at the
mill, together with the uninjured
passengers, began with all haste to
make things comfortable for the un-
fortunates.
They were carried into the way
car where improvised beds we're pro-
vided-there being no medical aid
nearer than Rapid City, all haste
was made to this point where doc
tors were in waiting, being sum-
moned to the station as soon as frs
report was received.
Accommodations were scant; the
scarcity Of lights making it long
dreary ride for the injured, as we'll
as for the anxious friends, who brave
ly did their best to comfort and ease
the pain OF the sufferers.
Upon Arrival.
Upon arrival at the station here
Doctors Minty and Giffin took the
injured in charge. Cots were pro
vided in the offices of the Crouch
depot where the first scientific ex-
.tilltlldltOu NdS 1uuuCsS anu dlu Ou-
dered. AS soon as possible the in
iurad were conveyed to more COM
mcdius quarters. where their frac-
tures and wounds received the best
Of attention.
Niial,t Have Been Worse.
People aboard the ill-fated motor
are inclined to praise Mr.. Hurlbut
Cor hravely sticking. to his post at
4 the most critical moment. The brake
IN the car was a foot power" af-
fair, and was applied to its utmost
earaeity and held in place by the man
ineharge, although for a moment his
position was a perilous one. Mr.
y Hurlbut, Mr.. Day and the Plat
children occupied the front seat
These were the more severely in.
Jlred being Wedged between the cal
platform and the bottom of the mo-
tor car.
The Platt children were on theil
way here from Boulder, Colo, tt
4 !doin their father, Miles e. Platt, Z
ransher residing here. They board
ed he ear at Mystic, having come t.
that place over the Burlington.
Care Of Injured.
The Platt children were taken te
,e Patton house and attended b,
L,fs Minty, Flick and Giffin.
Mr.. Day and MI Jones were tax
en- t. the Harney Drs. Gilbert
Jackson and Flick rendering thei
skill to ease their pain.
City Council.
TIE city council met Monday eusn
Ing In regular session with Mayo
eriaE presiding. Present Aldernnel
5sss 8 -f..sl.tll,Y: 0Fespeck, BOYD, Thomsol
ss, Feigel.
Tssinlites of the two preyiou
sSssssSSss1-sa II we're read and approved.
ordinance authorizing tn
sss:s+s-s amid City & Northwestern
;a ilroad company to construct via
Il duct over Nowlin street at the inter Ed9l