Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-08-04
INJURED IN RUNAWAY
James Langill Now in Ash
land Hospital for Treat
ment TO Broken Limb and
Body Bruises.

WIN liio lSlt h'oI WSuStu De-
tween the axle and buggy pole
brace and runaway team drag
ging the unfortunate mans body
over the rough ground, was the
experience Sunday morning OF
James Langill, who, notwith-
standing the rough usage came
out of the mix-up With com
pound fracture of the left leg lust
above the ankle and his body
and arms badly bruised.
The accident occurred Sunday
morning about $50 this side OF
the Buckatoban-Star Lake rail
way crossing on the north side
of the river Mr.. Langill had
started on a fishing trip to the
Deerslin river alone, driving a
team, one of which was two
vear-old colt and the other the
family pony. The 5:25 passenger
train caught up with Langill this
side of the crossing, whisting for
the latter when about even with
the team. The escapement of
steam scared the pony and both
horses wheeled sharply to the
right throwing the driver out on
the left side of the rig Che having
been sitting on that side) catch
ing his left foot securely between
the axle and pole brace. This
drew him between the wheels
and underneath the rig, keeping
his body from being battered and
saving him from being killed
when the team ran alongside
and into the wire fence for several
rods before the pony was thrown
The runaway, from the time
the team started until they stop
ped, was witnessed from the
rapidly moving train by the
crew and passengers, among
whom were Gene Odell, Oscar
Brown, k c. Ziebell, JOS. Ste
panski, George Hall, Lawrence
Kuehne and Joe Frankel of this
place, who recognized Mr. Lam
gill at once. The accident can
better be described by giving the
version of one of the eve wit
uesses:
I'VE were about even with the
team when the engineer whistled
and we saw them wheel short
throwing Mr. Langill out; saw
also that his foot was caught IN
the rig and as the team were run
ming along the fence it looked to
us as if the body hit every post.
Even the train crew thought the
same The team stopped when
the pony fell, being against the
fence. There was no perceptible
movement from Mr. Langill and
we thought him dead, as his body
was still hanging from the rig.
We then asked Conductor Duvall
who was running train No. III
10 let us off. Station Agent
ZiebeH, who was also on the train
requested the conductor to stop.
He refused, saying his train had
not hit the rig. We kept at hun
but he persistently refused and
as it was running at full speed
none of us dared Jump off. Being
so early in the morning we knew
the injured man would not be
found for some time and when
we got to Corover, Ziebell tele-
graphed the train dispatcher at
Ashland to open conlmunlca-
ton with Eagle River and send
assistance. Conductor Duvall $
action in a case of this kind was
simply unhuman and it doesn t
seem probable that his superior
officers would censure him II he
had stopped the train.
Mr., Langill gives his version;
when the team turned short
it threw me out, my foot eaten
ing in the buggy. | remember OF
falling under the rig, but that IS
all. When / came too the team
was standing still. | hardly
know how | got my loot
loose or how l managed to get
into the rig. soon recovered
enough strength to start The
team home. On the river bridge
I asked George Fuller to get II
the rig and help me home he
saw my leg was broken ane
called Frank Dildine and Gene
Bowen to helpme into the house
I knew several of the boys OF