The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-04

into Cause of Accident Held.
rho inouest into the circumstances
of the killing of Mrs. Selma Raapana
an Tuesday afternoon at the crossing
an Quincy street in West Hancock by
a Mineral Range train was held yes
terday afternoon and verdict reach
cd nv the Jury was to the effect that
sbe came to her death by being run
over by q train.
The engineer, conductor, fireman
and brakemen of the coal train were
examined as witnesses. Ii appears
that the engine drawing the train was
focinp the cars, and coming backward
down the hill. The conductor, fireman,
and engineer were in the cab of the
engine. but could not see far ahead OF
them over the water tank OF the tender.
They rang the bell and whistled as
required when approaching crossings,
and the first they knew of the fact that
they had run over a woman was when
thcv reached the Hancock yards and
we're then notified of the occurrence.
They were running extra and were
hauling cars between Boston and Han
cock. The train was going. according
TO the estimates of the railroad men,
between six and eight miles an hour.
Mrs. Amelia Fourche, residing in the
Wfmis building near the railroad
crossing witnessed the entire affair
from the window of her home. She
had seen the woman take her oil can
into Eilolas store and come out again
almost Immediately. She appeared to
be i'm "A hurry, and although the train
was near the crossing and had whis-
tied and rang Mrs. Raapana paid no
rocd and apparently did not hear.
Mrs. Fourche stated that she saw the
nagman on the track with his back to-
wards the woman, and she hoped that
he would see Mrs. Raapana before she
got to the tracks. The fagman turn
ed and gave a start just as Mrs. Raa-
pana stepped on the tracks. She could
not see what else occurred. the view
being obstructed somewhat by the flag
shanty, and she thought that the wo-
man had crossed safely when she saw
people running down the track She
went out and saw the body of the
woman on the track. She thought the
train was going quite fast.
John Began, the flag man at the
Quincy street crossing. said that he
was in the shanty and saw the train
approaching down the hill, He heard
II whistle near Sulllvan's curve and
heard the bell ring as it passed Eleva-
ton street and as II came towards the
crossing. He saw the woman APP
preaching when she was about 25 feet
from him and he stated that he tapped
her on the shoulder, telling her at the
same time to stay where she was or go
into the flag house. He then turned
his attention to a rig which was APP
preaching and paid no further atten-
ton to the woman. In answer to ques-
tions by the jurymen Mr.. Began said
that he did not know whether the wo-
man understood him or not, and that
it was not his business to seize and
hold her, as he had to look out for
others who might be in danger. He
ulu not COHSiutT duyuouy W pihihS w
the accident.
George Ryan testified to being an
eye witness, and related that he watch
cd the woman going towards the cross
ing from Eilolas store and that she
seemed to be walking very rapidly
The Waterman came out of the shanty
and walked to the center of the road
waving his flag. The woman was about
TO step on the track, when the flag
man noticed her and took couple OF
steps in her direction. The next he
saw was that the train was upon the
woman.
The funeral of Mrs. Raapana was
held this afternoon from her late homo
on Franklin street, interment taking
place in Lakeside cemetery.