Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-03-25
TRAIN MANG[ED GIRL
Myrtle Walker Hit by Ann ArbOr Pas
Senger Train Going South.
HAPPENED NEAR THE DEPOT
Two other Alma Ladies' Have Narrow Cell
From Death From Same Train.

Friday afternoon Miss Myrtle
Walker. who lives at 1O3 Park avenue,
was on her way home from school and
when reaching the Park street cross
ing of the p. NJ. and Ann Arbor
railroads was compelled to wait while
a freight train going west on tie
Pere Marquette was passing. The
tracks of the Pere Marquette and Ann
Arbor railroads parallel one another
at this point. and as the freight train
was long one, Miss Walker stood on
the Ann Arbor track waiting the first
opportunity to cross and owing to the
noise of the passing freight did not
hear or notice the swiftly moving Ann
Arbor passenger train, which at this
particular crossing. owing to sharp
curve. can be seen for only short
distance, bearing down upon her.
Passengers at the depot. watching
the incoming train, saw the girl
thrown to one side and drop between
the tracks of the two roads. The
engineer of the passenger brought his
train to stand still and before those
at the depot. onlv block away. coulu
reach the scene of accident was beside
the injured girl with bandages and
appliances for stopping the flow of
blood
The Wright House bus was converted
into temporary ambulance and the
injured girl taken to Brainerd HOSPITAL,
where Drs Brainerd. Lamb and Nc
Clinton. were awaiting her arrival.
1t was found necessary by the
surgeons to amputate the left limb
about four inches above the ankle,
while the right foot was so badly
crushed that amputation was necessary
at the instep. two fingers on the left
hand were also badly injured and her
head lacerated.
Miss Walker Is nearly Is wears old
and a student in our schools. She
resided with her aunt. who lives as
above stated at 103 Park avenue. Her
parents live at Crystal and were at
once notified of the accident.
Just previous to the accident. which
cripnled Miss Walker for life an d only
one block awav at the crossing of the
TWO roads and Lincoln avenue, the
same train came near taking the
lives OF two of our well-kDown resi-
dents. Mrs. c. F. Brown and Mrs
A. B. Scattergood. The two ladies
were on their way to the home of
Mrs. W. A. Tuttle. who lives south
of the track, when as they were cros-
sing the Ann Arbor track, they noticed
the freight going west on the p. NJ
bearing down on them. The ladies
stopped thinking to let the train pass,
when with a glance north they were
horror sticken to see the passenger
train on the AnnAbror rushing towards
them only a few rods away. It
was too late to retrace their steps and.
to hesitate meant probable death. so
with the speed horn of fright. the
ladies darted in front of the rapidly
moving freight and reached the south
side of the track just as the train
whi2zed by Barring their fright. the
ladies were none the worse for their
experience
1t would seem that the CITY govern
ment would have the mower ny ordin-
ance to prevent the railroads from per-
miting two trains going in opposite
directions from speeding around
curve within so short distance of the
station and in as thicklv a populated
resident section as where the two roads
cross Lincoln and Park avenues. If
the above conditions are necessary TO
successful railroading the CITY govern
ment or state railroad commissioner
should compell them to protect the
public at the crossings with either
gates or flagmen. Now is the time to
act and not wait until others are
killed or msngled for life.
-O