Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1912 — COMPANION ESCAPED [ARTICLE]

COMPANION ESCAPED

Both Men Struck by Milk TlW*Engine While Riding in Enclosed Buggy Wednesday Evening.

Horst Killed; Buggj Demolished Reed Has Broken Leg and Other Bruises, While Herndon Suffered Only Minor Injuries— Miraculous Escape. George W. Reed, a well known farmer residing just outside the northwest part of this city, and Alton Herndon, who works on the Reed farm, had a miraculous escape ftam Instant death Wednesday evening at about 6:45 o’clock, and Mr. Reed suffered a compound fracture of his right leg below the knee and was otherwise bruised up, while Mr. Herndon escaped with only a few bruises. They were in an enclosed buggy with a storm front, coming to Rensselaer to attend church, and were engaged in conversation when they reached the railroad crossing op near the Dave McConnahay and E. C. Maxwell residences. Mr. Herndon was driving the family driving horse and neither noticed the approaching milk train from the north, which was running almost an hour late. It was very foggy and the light from the engine was therefore considerably dimmed. Just as they reached the crossing Mr. Reed took the whip and lightly struck the horse and at that instant Mr. Herndon saw the engine almost on them. He pulled back on the lines just as the engine struck the horse. That was all they either one remembered. Mr. Herndon felt himself flying through the air and into a clump of willows. He had soon extricated himself and was attracted by Mr. Reed’s moans. He found his companion dear the railroad, beneath a part of the buggy top. He called for aid and Mrs. David McConhahay responded and together they got Mr. Reed out<rom beneath

the demolished buggy and procuring a wheelbarrow took him to the McConnahay home nearby. Mr. Herndon went to the E. C. Maxwell residence and telephoned to Charles Reed, a brother of the injured man. He then ran all the way to town, a distance of more than a ’half mile, and procured Drs. Loy, Kresler and Hemphill and one of the city busses. Mr. Reed was conscious and was taken to his home. It was found that the fracture was a serious one, the bones having been forced through the muscles ot the leg. The fracture Was hastily reduced, however, and he was able to spend a rather restful night and shdws no signs of other. Injury of a serious nature. Mr. Herndon has a scratch on bis nose, a severely sprained thumb and several slight bruises about the body. The horse was killed and the buggy completely demolished. The engineer did not know that his train has struck any object. The train made the Rensselaer stop and had gone as far as McCoysburg before the engineer or any member of the train crew learned of an accident. Milbrin Griffin, at McCoysburg, saw a part of a buggy top on the fender of the engine and called the attention of a member of the train crew. Investigation showed that a part of the storm front, one cur tain and a piece of horse flesh was clinging the the fender. The conductor refused to move the train until he learned what had happened. The Monon section gang, which had been working at McCoysburg and which had just boarded the train were sent over the track on a handcar, presuming that the accident had occurred near that place. Shortly afterward, however, the conductor learned that the accident had occurred before his train made< the Rensselaer stop. The train was delayed at McCoysburg a half ..hour and the section gang did not get back to Monon until the southbduntd night train, due here at fl:05.