The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-06-12
Claude Cummins Sue
cumbs to Crushed Arm
andLeeSustained Try
ing to Board Engine
FOOT TURNED ON PEBBLE As HE
REACHED FOR TREACHEROUs
PIIOT-DEATH OCCURRED 4.
HOURS LATER-PATHETI

Claude Cummins, aged about fifteen
years. died last evening shortly be-
fore six O'Clock in the Steptoe hos
pital from terrible injuries sustained
at $3.50 yesterday morning In the
East Ely yards of the Nevada North
ern.
Mrs FL. L. Cummins. mother of
the boy, is In critical condition as
the result of nervous collapse follow
ing the death of her son, by whose
bedside she was throughout yester-
day, in prayer and inexpressible
agony of hope and fear.
News of the death of Claude Cum
minis Travelled rapidly last evening In
East Ely. where he was known by
everybody. having practically grown
up in the town. and many mourned
his death last night. This was par
ticularly true among the children,
with whom he was general
fayorte.
The boy was employed about
month ago as an engine wiper on
the night shift at the Nevada North
ern shop. where his father has been
employed since the road entered the
city. lately as night foreman.
The tragedy through the latter
fact was made unusually sad by rea-
son that it was under Instructions of
his father that the lad was working
when he received the injuries which
proved fatal.
These were sustained when the boy
attempted to pump on the engine for
which he had been sent to throw
switch for the cinder pit. Accom-
plishing his mission he tried to
swing on the pilot OF the engine
which was moving at a snails pace,
with Night Hostler J Fl. McCauley
at the throttle.
McCauleys first intimation of the
accident came from the cinder pit.
where men at work saw the boy fall
and set up shout. McCauley re-
sponded to this so quickly that only
the wheels of the forward truck of
the engine passed over the boy. the
big driving wheels not reaching him.
Immediately after the accident the
boy was taken TO the Steptoe hos
pital where DR. T.. L. X. Wallace
summoned Drs. Abbott and Llew
Wallace of his staff to give assistance.
Following consultation ii was decided
to amputate the terribly crushed
right arm of the lad at the shoulder.
from where to the wrist the wheels
of the engine had mashed the mem
ber to pulp Also it was decided
to amputate the right leg Just below
the knee. from where down II was
crushed in manner similar 10 the
arm.
The physicians felt that while the
were absolutely neees-
sarv 1T was nevertheless doubtful II
the boy would survive long enough
to allow his removal from the operat-
ing table. He rallied well. however,
and hopes were raised for his re-
covery. He continued bright and
improving until the min
ute of his death, when between Two
the sustaining ministratlons
which had been given him during the
day ceased to be operative, when be-
fore there was time 10 give even
hyperdermic injection the plucky lad
ceased to breath and was dead.
The grit of the hoy has never
been exceeded in the hospital, said
Dr. h. l.. X. Wallace last evening
The shock TO his system was simply
too much for him to overcome. Two
nurses were at his bedside and were
about TO administer saline salts, with
which and other blood and heart
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