Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-12-30
Joseph P. Massey Killed
While Walking on Rail.
road Near Sun City
last Wednesday
Morning.
ALMOST TOTALLY DEkT
And Had no knowledge Of Approach
ing Trani. Lived Only Two Hours
After Fatal Accident.

The people of Medicine Lodge and
northwestern Barber county were startled
beyond expression last Wednesday
morning at $50 when the news was
flashed over the wire that Joseph P. Mas
sey Of Turkey Creek township was
struck by the Santa Fe engine, train 548,
a quarter mile west of Sun City and fa-
tally injured. Two hours later a mes
sage came that he died without gaining
consciousness.
MIR. Massey was coming from his
home which is not far from Sun City, and
it was his habit to walk down the track
a part Of the way when going to the
depot because it was shorter walk that
way. He was very deaf and could not
hear the approach Of the train, although
the engineer, who was a new man and
knew nothing Of Mr.. Massey's deafness.
pulled the whistle for a considerable
length Of time at ample distance and, Of
course. expected to see him step from the
track at every moment. When the tra;n
got close to him and the engineer saw
that MIR. Massey was apparently in ig-
norance Of its approach, he threw on the
air, but too late. The pilot Of the en-
gine struck him on the thighs. threw him
backwards, his head striking the engine
and the entire body bouncing from the
track to the left. One Of the legs wa.
broken and the back Of the head badly
crushed. The train came to standsilI
a moment after the accident, going only
about three car lengths. Mr.. Massey
was taken on the train by the crew and
carried to Sun City and conveyed to the
home Of his brother-in-law, 7. T. Hat
field, where he died within two hours.
The accident was witnessed by Mr..
Masseys son. Ralph, who was on the
wagon road with load Of hay less than
quarter OF mile away. 1t was a ter
rible sight for him to witness, realizing
his utter inability to go to the rescue.
! Speaking Of the accident when he
reached Sun City. he said that he and
other members Of the family had often
protested and advised his father agains,
walking on the railroad, realizing the
danger on account Of his poor hearing,
but it was custom with him and he
could not see the danger. On this par
ticular morning, Mr.. Massey was en-.
crossed with business and his mind wa.
so occupied that he evidently gave the fac
that it was about train time no thought
He was on his way to the Sun City de.
pot, intending to board the train there.
Following the accident, statements were
made by the engineer and fireman, as i
the custom IN all railroad accidents. En-
gineer r. E. Mason said:
CATER seeing MIR. Massey on the
track whistled for the crossing and al
/ the post for Sun City. The man 1 saw
on the track was still some distance a
head and then whistled to warn him
We were running probably about q
miles per hour. AS we approached hin
1 pulled the cord repeatedly and did al
possible to attract attention. Gettiue
close to him and seeing he paid no at
tention to my signals / applied the ali
but could not stop before hitting him.
He was walking in the middle of tn,
track, swinging his arms and with hi
head down as if in study"
billiard Garrison, fireman, says: "]
/ saw man step upon the track at tn,
point of timber and turn toward Sur
City. From the time he stepped on the
track until he fell after being struck by
the engine, never took my eyes off him