Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1894 — Railroad Laborers Strangely Hurt. [ARTICLE]

Railroad Laborers Strangely Hurt.

While Section Foreman Michael Quinlan and a-force of men were engaged in removing a rail from the track of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, one and a half miles north of this city, an unusual accident occurred, which resulted very seriously to Walter Walters and James Sneed, both colored. As each spike was removed the rail took the form of a bow, caused by the intense heat expanding it. After the removal of the spikes, the clamps which connect each end with adjoining rails were unfastened. A crowbar was then placed under one end of tho rail to pry it loose from its position. As soon as weight whs applied to the crowbar the rail unexpectedly jumped out to middle of the track and struck the men and Foreman Quinlan on the legs with such force as to fell them to tho ground. Foreman Quinlan’s injuries consisted of a badly mashed foot. Walter Walters and James Sneed were conveyed to the city hospital. The former received a compound fracture of the right ankle, and will be confined several months. Sneed was so badly hurt that his right leg below the knee joint and part of his left leg had to be amputated. The accident caused a great deal of comment among railroad men, it being the fft-st of its kind over kpown to have happened. —1 Nashville American.