The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-19

ing struck by Engine No. 900 of
train No. II while walking on the
track of the Chicago & North
western railroad about 400 feet
| north of the Rock street crossing
in the city of Mankato at about
$40 p. m. Nov 10, 1909.
This is the verdict reached by the
coroner's jury in the hearing on the
deaths of Hugh Maybe and Lee Foley.
The inquest over the remains of the
late Lee Foley and Hugh Mabie, who
were run over and killed by the Chi
cago & Northwestern stub passenger
train last Wednesday evening, was
held this forenoon at Landkamer Bros.
& Davidson's undertaking rooms. Coun-
ty Attorney Plymat represented the
state, S. B. Wilson appeared for the
parents of Lee Foley, and Chris Carl
son for Hugh S. Mabie, father of
Hugh Mabie.
Story Told By Engineer.
Engineer John NJ. Moore, of the en-
CINE that struck the boys, was the
first witness called. His home is at
Winona, and age sixty. While COM
ing down through the yards, 1 saw a
young boy jump from behind the
tender. Thinking | had struck him,
i stopped the train and went back to
where l thought he had got off the
track, and called to him, but getting
no answer / thought maybe he had
some companion with him. 1 went
back to the end of the train and
found the body of one boy. and went
a little further back and found the
body of the second boy. 1t was dark
The boy jumped toward the east of
the track. A freight train was going
north on the Omaha track There
was no headlight on the back of the
engine, and are not supposed to have
one. There was a light, but with it,
it was not possible to see the track
There is a regulation in regard to
lights when backing up. The engine
was backing, pulling the train. The
regulations provide for white light
on each side and red light in the
center in such a case. All were
lighted at Mankato Junction, but only
one was burning when the city was
reached. The wind blows them out.
The light that was still burning was
on my side of the engine. and the
reflection of the light made it seem
to me that the boy was hit on the
shoulder. If it had not been for this.
would not have known that there was
an accident. 1t was very windy
night, and do not know when they
blew out. l saw the fireman lighting
the lights at Mankato Junction. The
accident happened east of Rock street,
400 to 600 feet. The train was going
seven or eight miles an hour When
there is clear view, the train ome>
in at fifteen to twenty miles an hour.
1t was twenty minutes late that night.
Could not see the rails around the
curve any distance. The tender OBJ
structs the view of the track close by,
except going around a curve. The
power was off and the engine was
drifting. The brakes had been on.
The engine stopped 200 feet or more
east of the semiphore east of Mayer
Bros foundry. 1 stopped within 200
feet after seeing the boy The lights
did not throw any more light than a
lantern. Felt no jar when the boys
were run over
John Ryan of Winona, conductor on
the train, said that he was fifty two
years old. He did not know of the
accident until Mr. Moore had called
him and told him that he had run
over the two little boys. Went back
and found one forty feet from the
coach and the other the same distance
behind that one. The train was No.
II, and the engine 900.
Testimony of the Fireman.
E. A. Buck of Lanesboro, fireman
on the engine, gave his age as twenty
four. Was riding in the cab on the
fireman's side, and did not see the
accident. Stayed on the engine after
it stopped until after the Omaha
freight train had gone by, then got
off and was talking to the baggage
man when the engineer came up from
the rear and told us of the accident
This was tine first he knew of it
II lighted the lights at Mankato juno
| ton. Did not look at the lights un.
| til five or six minutes after we stop.
ped, and one of them was lit. This
was while we were standing there.
Harry j. Muedeking of this city
baggageman on the train, thirty-thret
years old, said That he was in his
car when the train stopped. Went owe
to the engine and asked the fireman
what was the. matter. He said tn
; engineer thought he had hit a bo,
and had gone back to see. 1 thel
walked up alongside the train an
forty or fifty feet beyond the bod
lay. | then went up to the secon
body This was about 545 D. m. an
it was dark. The bodies were fit.
}, to sixty feet apart. One was lyin
across the rails and one between tn