The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-07
John Kaberlein, of 'tLfttle Rus
.sia," Meets Sudden Death.
Crushed Under Freight Car at
Santa Fe Shops.
WAS MAKING REPAIRS
Underneath Car When "BlOck
ing'' Gave Way.
Badly Crushed = Leaves Small
Family.

John p. ka Derle1n OF 5 IS North Sar-
dou avenue, an employe in the freight
car shops of the Santa Fe. was almost
instantly killed while working under a
bad order car in the shops Wednes-
day afternoon about o'clock. AS
near as can be learned the lacking
and blocking under the car gave
away and the big box car came crash
ing down upon the kneeling form of
Kaberlein.
The crash attracted fellow workmen
who then ran to the assistance of the
unfortunate man at once. The car
was lifted up as soon as the jacks could
be readjusted. Then the form of The
dying man was pulled from beneath
the wreckage. He was horribly smash
ed and lived but a few minutes after
the car had fallen.
According to the TOrkmen, kaber-
lein was making repairs under the car.
The car had been sent to the shops 1or
Overhauling and was in the freight car
shops for this purpose. Kaberlein was
a truckman in the shops. He was be-
meath the car which had been lacked
up a few feet that workmen might
make the necessary repairs beneath
the body of the car.
Without warning of any kind the
blocking gave away ano the whole end
of the car came crashing down on the
man underneath. The average box car
the death of the emplOye was almost
instantaneous
Kaberlein has been with the Santa
Fe in the shops for the last six years,
being in the freight car shops all this
time He is a man about 80 years
old and is a Russian by birth. He is
a nephew of Adam Kaberlein.
He leaves a family and three chill
among the employees of the Shops to
help out the destitute family.
About II O'Clock this morning a
North side woman started to turn on
the hydrant to get water in prepara-
ton for dinner. None came. 1t had
been turned off about 1920 a. m, so
that the waterworks company could
make a new connection with their
mains on Nolan bridge. The mains
had been removed from the center of
the street to trench just west of the
street car tracks so as to be out OF
the way of the Melan bridge extension
excavation. The water was turned off
for several hours while the new con-
nections were being made. However,
the First ward was rot without fire
protection. Steamer No. i was sent
over from the fire headquarters and
the big cistern on Kansas avenue just
north of Norris street was filled to be
used in case of fire. The citizens of
the First ward had been notified
through the papers that this part of
Topeka would be without water in
plenty of time to get a supply ahead
for domestic use.
A. D. johnson, in charge of the
Melan bridge extension work, reported
this morning that both telephone COM
panies are at work moving their con-
Quits out Of the way, but that the
Western Union Telegraph company
had done nothing to get their poles
out Of the route of the excavating. At
present the guy wires of one of the
poles on the west side of the excavat-
ing is covered only by small amount
of earth. The rest has been dug away.
The Johnson people thought that the
intended to remove the pole
at once and 50 went ahead with the
excaVating. IF a hard rain would
come the remaining earth support of
the wire might be washed away.
when the telephone companies
have removed their distractions out of
the way, we will use twice the num-
Der of men which we now employ"
said Mr.. Johnson this noon. 1--WE are
being delayed bv the conduits being in
the way. The street car company say
they will relocate their tracks so as not |
to Interfere with us, but so far have
done nothing
The James tract just west if Garfield |
park and south of Soldier creek is be- |
ing transformed into a white city"
the shade trees the walls of |
the tents being erected by the health |
seekers on the Soldier creek bank are !
to loom up. Under the au-
spices of the Provident association the |
camp is nearing COM |
p1etion and will likely be in readiness |
for the patients by the end of this |
week
Six tents will be erected and more as |
the demand requires The camp will be |
continued into the fall. The canvas |
dwellings are of the wall variety and |
will be provided with floors. A cook |
Ing tent will be set up. 1t is likely |
that telephone service will be installed. |
A well is being drilled today.
The encampment will be in charge |
Of Mrs. Charles B. Thomas, a visiting |
nurse of the Provident association. A |