The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-15
JAMES HEN|NCER
KILLED BY TRAIN
Well Known Vetern Meets Death While
Hunting North of Plymouth This
Morning Deafness Prevented His
Hearing Whistle Body Thrown 200
Feet

Deafness which has been the afflic-
ton of the prominant old soldier
James M. Heminger was instrumen-
tai in his sudden death, by violence,
Tuesday morning. While hunting in
company with Eli Silvius, Mr.. Hem
niger was struck by Number %, Lake
Erie and Western Passenger train,
at point about one mile north Of
Plymouth, at 1910 o. clock which re-
suited In his instant death. That he
was seen by the engine crew before
he was struck and killed, is evidenced
by the story Of Mr.. Silvius, who was
several rods from the scene, and
whose attention was first arrested
by the continuous blasting of the
whistle of the locomotive. Mr.. Sill.
vius looked to the railroad, just as
the pilot of the locomotive struck its
victim. The body was hurled for
almost two hundred feet, by the aw-
full impact. When the engine crew
reached his side, James Henmingel
was breathing his last. The body
was lifted into the baggage car, and
brought to Plymouth. The death
low was delivered back of, and un-
der the right ear, being WIDE and
deep cash, extending from the base
Of the skull, under the ear to the
throat. The back of the skull was
crusked ,and the left arm was broken
and almost torn from its socket.
The impact of the engine
threw the victim with such force.
hat the hunting boots worn by Mr.
Heminger, were thrown from his
body; in its fight. Judging by the
Appearances of the wounds and the
position of the body, the stricken
man must have been standing or
walking on the east side of the tract
and was probably struck by the bear
extending from the pilot of the
engine. The accident occurred jusi
south of the railroad tressel, which
spans the creek running east am
west, south of the Morris wood.
Started Hunting Early
Hunting has been the chief partime
Of Mr.. Heminger for several years
and he has been seen with his sho-
oun over his shoulder. almost ever.
enc day this winter. During the dnc'
season he travels about to Nax'r
kuckee and the other lakes in t.
-eiohhorhood IN inarlo'nv hi-nse'
in the spot. Tuesday morning he
rrived at The home OF Eli Silrir
.wo miles north Of this citv at aNo''
100 o'clock Here he insisted the
''r. Silvius join him for dav g
-ahhit hunting. The later rcplio
'hat be could not 90 as he had
rake a trip TO Plvraouth. aud d
some other work. Mr.. Hemineer IN
sisted on the other joining him. an
Nr. Silvius finally promised to hurr
70 Plymouth and hack, and then jo'r
Mr.. Heminger in the woods. S'lviu
came to Plymouth to deliver milk
and returned quickly to his home
and finally started hunting at ahou'
100 o o'clock. A half hour later h."
found Heminger and the two huntea
together. When he found Heminge'
he latter had just shot rabbit. and
landed the game BAG. with the rahh''
% Silvius. The two hunted together
on the east side of the L. f. & W
track, and then crossed over to th'
west side. Here they worked south
ward, into the Morris wood. Comm
from the Morris wood. they decide
70 again cross the track and hunt o.
the east side. Mr.. Silvius at one
uttered a field adjoining the track
while Heminger continued 10 wall
DOWN the track. 81 did not see tn
train strike Mr.. Heminger, said Mr.
Silvius to a reporter for the Tribun'
this morning. "I was several
rods from Heminger, and did no.
know that he remained on the tract
NV attention was attracted, when tn
locomotive began whistling so persis-
tantly. As l looked l saw the boots
worn by Mr.. Heminger thrown
through the air, but / did not sec
he hoJx, Of oil ,,
A large ferret which the unfortu-
nate man carried in sack. was killed
in the accident which took the life
of its master. A new repeating shot
gun carried by Mr.. Hemingor was
broken.
The L. f. w. tracks made sharp
bend from the northwest a short dis
tance from the point where the ac-
cident occurred and it is probable.
that the locomotive could not be
stopped within that space. Also it
is likely that the engine crew eS-
pected the man to leave the tracks
after the whistle had been blown.
Conductor Amos Teeples of indian
apolis was in charge of the train.
and Engineer Whetsell of Peru was
at the throttle. The story of these
two men in reference to the tragedy
has not been heard.
Familiar Character
James Heminger was most fami