The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-23
YOUNG COUPLE
COMPELLED TO
JUMP FOR LIFE
James Abbott and Ella Mole
~ Caught on Union Pacific
Bridge by Engine.
GIRLS HEAD STRUCK
AND SKULL CRUSHED
BOYS INJURIES SLIGHT-RieID
INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY
RAILWAY COMPANY.
Especial to The Herald.)

Ogden, June 22.-Caught like rats in
trap. Miss Ella Mole and James
Abbott were overtaken by an engine
on a bridge over the Weber river at
Devils Slide shortly after o'clock
Sunday evening. Young Abbott made
brave effort 10 save the girl, but she
was injured to such an extent that she
died six hours later. Miss Mole for
merly lived with her parents i'm this
city and young Abbott is the son Of
j. W. Abbott prominent resident OF
Ogden.
According 10 the story told by the
boy, he and Miss Mole, together with
another couple went oct for a walk
Their wanderings led them across the
Weber river bridge of the Union Pa
cihc. When the party was ready TO re-
turn Il trains approach was heard. They
waited for the train 20 pass and then,
thinking that il would be some time
before another train came along, they
began walking the ties over the bridge
Compelled to Leap for Life.
When about the center of the struc-
ture was reached the girl looked back
and saw the headlight of an engine
She became excited and Selling young
Abbott by the arm. appealed 10 him
Tor help. Abbott aided the girl as best
he could and together they tried to
reach the end of the. bridge Before
they succeeded in reaching the bank of
the river however. the engine was SO
close that there was but one thing to
be done, and that was to leap for their
lives
II was then that Abbott saw the girl
was in veritable state of collapse, and
seizing her i'm his arms. he leaped off
the bridge backward, landing on the
bank Of the river some fifteen feet be-
low. The leap was not executed quickly
enough however. and some projection
of the engine struck the girl on the
back of the head al the base Of the
brain.
Girl Fatally Injured.
When the hoy and girl landed on the
ground he was underneath and shielded
her from striking the ground. Abbott
= at once saw that the young woman was
insensible. although he had escaped
with a few minor injuries. He sum-
moned aid at once. but the girls con-
dition was such that she died at 3
o'clock i'm the morning.
Young Abbott states positively that
no part of the girls body struck the
ground when he leaped from the bridge
with her and asserted to his parents
here that the young WOman's neck was
not broken. He attributes the cause of
death to the blow she received from
the engine.
Investigation Ordered.
4 IailTOad headquarters here the in
formation was given out yesterday that
a rigid investigation had been started
An agent of the company was sent to
the scene of the accident on the first
train after the news had been received
here. IL was also stated that there
were three men on the engine which
is supposed to have run the couple
down and that all three asserted the
couple on the bridge were not seen by
them. although the headlight was burn
ing brightly.
Young Abbott is employed at the
plant of the Union Portland Cement
company at Devils Slide. as an as
sistant chemist. Miss Mole was Well
known TO a large circle of friends here.
having formerly lived with her parents
az 326S Washington avenue. Her age
was about -.