The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-14
HE IS HAUNTED
North Carolina Man Sees
Visions on Trains.
Flees I'm Terror From Invisible
Pursuer.
NOW At DOOR Of DEATH
Jumped From Train at Law
rence-Then Topeka.
Again at Wakeeney-BOth Legs
Crushed Under Wheels.

A big strong healthy young man.
full Of ambition and youth. without
bad habits and with good parentage.
lies at deaths door today because OF
IN unfortunate Authorization. Be-
friended and upheld he left Topeka
with happy hopes for a home in the
West. Then came a delusion, q
frightened turn of mind-and he leap
cd from q Union Pacific train, fell un-
der the wheels and today lies suffer-
ing intense pain with little chance for
life and without two limbs which were
mangled and torn from the body.
The young man is Merritt Fore.
His home is in Lecister, North Caro-
lima, only a few miles from Asheville.
He was on his way to Pocatella, Idaho.
He was haunted by q belief that some-
one was after him and he leaped from
q Union Pacific train at Wakeeney.
He rolled under the cars and little
hope is entertained for his recovery.
The story of his misfortune in Kan
sas Is found through three Topekans
who befriended him-L. L. Kiene.
sheriff. DR.. Hogeboom and Charles
Holeman.
The first news heard in Topeka of
Fore's weird visions came from a
farmer near Lawrence. Fore was on
q Union Pacific train with consider
able baggage. He was in possession OF
-
he leaped from his seat in the chair
car. plunged through an open window
and rolled down the embankment
along the right Of way. 80.
It was a miraculous escape. He
was bruised only slightly but ran
and could not be found by a search
ing train crew and scores of passen-
gers.
Exhausted. frightened. cold and
hungry he was discovered by farm
err near Lawrence. The farmer took
him to his home. He gave him food
and a bed. The next day Fore was
perfectly rational. He told straight
forward story, admitted that he had
been seized by a horror that someone
was after him and made arrange
ments with Union Pacific officials to
start West on the next train.
Kiene Took Care of Him.
When the train arrived in Topeka,
Fore was seized with another hallu-
cination. He left the Union Pacific
station, ran up the alleys and was pur-
sued by police officers.
He was caught, conducted by the
officers in a stupor to the office Of
Kiene took care of him. He took
him to the county Jail, fed him. talk
ed with him. heard his story and gave
him a warm bed and comfortable
details to Union Pacific officials. He
stopped Fore's baggage. Out Of the
well known goodness of his heart he
bought him food, magazines, and gave
him money with which to carry
him through to the end of his journey.
for the young man had only Is cents
and a railway ticket. sE4
Then the big sheriff placed Fore in
his automobile, spent two hours out in
the country breathing the fresh air
and enjoying the cheerfulness and the
buoyancy of the spring morning. He
talked with Fore. argued with him,
assured him that no one was pursuing
him. and then took him to the train.
When Kiene left Fore he was in the
best Of spirits. He felt positive that
the mental delusion was a thing Of the
arrival in Idaho and keep in touch
with his stranger-friends in Kansas.
The train pulled out. The train
crew was warned by Kiene and every
effort was made to prevent a recur-
renee of the Lawrence and Topeka in
cidents.
Everything went we'll until Wa
time reading or pressing his face
against the car window watching the
panorama Of Kansas wheat fields and
Kansas hills and valleys.
Just as the train was pulling into
WaKeeney, Fore jumped from his
seat. screamed in terror, leaped
through the window and his two legs
were crushtd beneath the cars. He
was carried to town. given instant
medical attention and is under the best
Of care.
There is little chance that he will
live. His LIES pattern has been cut.