Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-12-08
Col. May Was
Gallant Officer

B of Ashland through the Philippine
campaign, lies seriously injured in
Mercy Hospital at Roseburg. A Rose
burg paper says:
~. l.. May, assistant superinten-
dent of the Southern Pacific lines in
Oregon, and for the past two years
stationed in Roseburg, met with
very serious accident late last even
ing, when he fell from high trestle,
near Myrtle Creek, and plunged down
the steep canyon for a distance of
thirty-five feet.
"As soon as the accident was dis
covered the injured man was car
ried to the Myrtle Creek depot and
DR.. Ashley of that city was called.
Stimulants were administered and
the patient was later placed aboard
special train and brought to this
city. He was admitted to Mercy Hos
pital, where he was attended by Drs.
A. c.. Seely and A. F. Sether.
Colonel May, as he is best known
in this city, left here in charge OF
the wrecking crew late yesterday af-
ternoon and went to Cornutt. where
| two cars were derailed. The cars
were placed on the track after an
hours work and the wrecking train
started for Roseburg shortly before
nine o'clock. Mr.. May boarded the
locomotive at Cornutt, where he rode
until the train reached Myrtle Creek
There he left the locomotive, with
the remark that he was cold and
would take passage in the caboose.
Unfortunately, it seems that the To-
comotive halted few feet north of
the bridge, while the string of cars
rested upon the structure. Although
there were no eye witnesses to the
accident, it is believed that Mr.. May
started back along the train in the
direction of the caboose, and in the
darkness missed his footing and fell
from the bridge. Although not re-
calling the exact manner in which he
was injured, Mr.. May says he thinks
he was standing on stringer oi
the bridge awaiting the arrival of the
caboose when he became unbalanced
and fell.
Conductor Van Luven, who was
in charge of the train, heard the
groans of the suffering man and i'm
mediately summoned members of his
crew and rushed down the steep and
rocky canyon where they found the
victim lying on pile of rocks. He
was carried up the steep embank
ment and taken to the Myrtle Greek
depot and DR.. Ashley was summoned
Slim mulants were administered and {
few minutes later the patient was or
his road to Roseburg. A vehicle
awaited the arrival of the train a
: the local station and Mr.. May wa
rushed to Mercy Hospital. A com
plete examination of his body re
, vealed the fact that he was suffering
intensely from the .hock. His thigl
was badly bruised. Drs. Sether ant
. Seely worked over the patient unit
t after two o'clock this morning whel
: they returned to their homes. A
near as can be ascertained the acci
dent happened at about nine-thirt
: o'clock.
e For a time following his arriva
g here the attending physicians he'll
n out little hope of the patients recoV
cry. In fact, he appeared to be sui
> fering from internal injuries as we
S as perplexing complications. Earl
e this morning, however, he rallied an
n the physicians are now OF the opinio
that he will recover.
Mrs. May, who lives at Portland
s was notified of her husbands injurie
n and arrived here this morning accom-
panied by her son.
c Colonel May is probably one {
the best known and best liked me
in this city. Although employed in
# position of great trust and respons
- bility and director of the movement
e of score or more of trainmen, M
May is without an enemy. In fac
t. his disposition is such that he form
d close friendship with all those wit
- whom he comes in contact. Thel
= was general regret about the city, TO
q lowing Mr. Mays accident, and hui
e dreds of telephone calls were receive
s at the local station today askin
y, about his condition.
> "Mr. May holds the position {
u lieutenant-colonel of the Oregon mi