Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1906 — HEAD CRUSHED. [ARTICLE]

HEAD CRUSHED.

Man Fatally Injured But Knows His Needs. WANTS A PRIEST AND NO DOCTOR Declares He Does Not Pear Death and Acts That Way—-Went Up "Agin”’ a Ram. Lafayette, Ind., Aug. 3. —With the top of his skull crushed nearly to a pulp, and his life ebbing away rapidly, James Jennings, 25 years old, sat in the Monon railway passenger station, and calmly discussed his approaching end. Persons who saw him say it was the most remarkable exhibit of nerve they ever witnessed. He boarded the Monon passenger train No. 4, at night, and climbed to the roof of the baggage car. He lay on the roof of the car until Lafayette was reached in the morning. His Head Strikes a Bridge. At Fourth street, in this city, an old overhead bridge crosses the Monon track. Jennings heard the train whistle for Lafayette station, and raised his head. His head struck the bridge, crushing his skull terribly. He clung to the roof, however, and when the train stopped he climbed down from the top of the car and walked into the station. The blood was flowing from his face, but he asked the first person he met to send for a priest. ■ - Not Aft-aid of Death. He said: “I don’t need a doctor. It’s all over." Rev. Father Leonard, a Roman Catholic priest, arrived, and seeing the young man was fatally hurt, administered the last rites of the church. Dr. George Beasley, the railroad surgeon, examined Jennings’s skull and announced that he could do nothing for him, to which Jennings replied: "I do not care: I’m not afraid." Entire Top of Head Crashed, He was taken to the hospital, and It was found that the entire top of his head was fractured. How he retained consciousness is remarkable. He gave his address as Clinton, Mass., where his mother resides. She was notified Physicians say he cannot survive. KNOCKED OUT BV A RAM Fate of a Man Who Undertook to Manage the Animal by Catching It by tbe Horns. Albany. Ind., Ang. 3. —M. A. Wilson, of this place, retired farmer and business man. is seriously injured, the result of mixing with a ram. Wilson wa? at his farm apd was trying to separate the buck from the rest of the flock. The mm made a break to pass him. and Wilson grapped the animal by the horns. There was a minute of excitement, and when the dust cleared away the ram was racing across the field, and Wilson was knocked out. In the melee his false teeth were dislodged, his nose was pushed to one side and flattened, both eyes were closed and blackened, and there were cuts and bumps and humps aii over his face and body. He was brought to this city and examined by a surgeon, who found no broken bones, but innumerable contusions. Wilson was very sick for several hours, and his condition caused anxiety, but he is now slowly convalescing. They Failed to See the Train. Indanapolis. Aug. 3. —While returning to their homes from Beech Grove, four miles east of this city, where they had been working on construction work, D. F. Sterling and Taylor Gappit were run down by a train. Sterling was instantly killed and Gappit died later at a hospital. The men did not notice the approach of a work train backing to the city.

Prick or a Pin Killed Him. Indianapolis, Aug. 3. One of tbe most peculiar causes of deatti on record has just been reported to the state board of health. Henry B. Smith died at St. Vincent's hospital, from septicoimla, or blood poisoning, caused by the accidental slight prick of a pin on tbe left thumb. The pin had been used to clean a pipe that Smith bad been smoking. Insanitary Slaughter House*. Indianapolis. Aug. 3. Reports received from 200 health officers by Secretary Ilurty, of the state board of health, indicate that 95 per cent, of the slaughter houses in Indiapa are in an insaniary condition. The board will l>e unable to accomplish a reform, because of the weakness of the laws. McCay’s Rond la 02,000. Frankfort, lud., Aug. 3.—The case against Charles McCay, of Kirklin, charged with starting the fire that practically destroyed the business district of the town, has been taken to the circuit court, the bond of the accused being fixed at $2,000. Lightning Kills a Boy. Lebanon, Iftd., Aug. 3.—Fifteen boys who had been swimming sought shelter under a tree from a thunder storm near here. Lightning struck the tree and killed Occie ltlce. aged 14. and the others were knocked down and seriously shocked. Honesty in Small Things. Corydon, Ind.. Aug. 3. A man registering as Stevens called on | a railway conductor here and paid him 20 cents, saying he beat the company oat of a 15-cent ride some years fore, and the extra 5 cents was for hfo. forest