Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-22
CONDUCTOR NOW
HELPLESSCRIPPLE
LIFE BLASTED BY CRUEL
ACCIDENT
VICTIM PARALYZED IN LOWER
LIMBS
Man injured In Wreck Year Ago
May sue Railroad Company
for Damsees--offered
$4,000

Helpless, unable to move either of
his lower limbs, his young life shat
tered by a cruel accident and all his
hopes and prospects gone, =. J. Cut
ting, conductor on the special train
which was wrecked March %, 1907,
when FIVE Occidental students lost their
lives and many others received injuries
which have MANNED them for life, Is
at the Santa Fe hospital, never having
left his bed since the night of the wreck.
Conductor Cutting Is a young man,
scarcely older than the boys who died
the night of the accident. He was In
the baggage car when the collision &C.
Cured. That was the place the great
est damage was done.
When the collision occurred he was
rendered unconscious by being thrown
from the aisle to the floor. A deep cut
in his forehead sustained at that time
still bears testimony to the blow he
received. When he recovered conscious
ness he was lying with number of in
jured In a car on his way to the depot.
He tried to raise from the floor, but
was unable to do SO. A physician hur-
ried to his side and there, in an old
baggage car, a hasty examination re-
vealed the fact that "Old jack CUT
ting, as his friends affectionately called
him, had probably given orders to his
crew for the last time. The physician
found his spine had been SO seriously
injured paralysis had resulted, and In
all probability he would never walk
again.
Confined to Bed
Mr.. Cutting has been confined to his
bed since that fateful night. He is at
the Santa Fe hospital, Boyle Heights,
where he has received constant atten-
ton.
1.-THE first four months of my stay
here it was not expected I would live
from one day to another" said Mr..
Cutting yesterday. 1.-THE first ten
months I had two nurses, one by day
and one by night, attending me con-
stantly. Since then I have been more
comfortable, but cannot even turn over
in bed without help. have one nurse
now, who attends to my wants. Excel
lent care has been given me under the
supervision Of DR.. Morrison. My ap-
petite is good, and feel well, except
ing my lower limbs, which are useless
/ am taken outside on a wheel chair
occasionally.
IT am thankful have no family to
worry over me. 1t seems hard, how
ever, to be obliged to be totally disabled
for life, as I am now only % years of
age. Before the accident I was much
interested In athletics, and was an en-
thusiastic baseball player, but for many
months my world has been confined
practically within these four walls"
In speaking Of his finances Mr.. Cut
ting said:
"Soon after I was injured the rail-
road company offered me $4,000 to clear
| all claims. / did not accept 1t, for
thought 1t too small an amount to
cover the expenses Of a life of dis
ability. made the company a propo-
sition that 1t purchase me a home In or
near Los Angeles, and furnish me a
stipulated amount monthly during my
total disability. That proposition was
turned down, and now If the company
does not help me I shall be compelled
myself.
st am insured in the Trainmen's as
ISOLATION to the amount of 1880, which
7 am entitled to receive on a total dis
ability policy"