Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1908 — KILLED BY CARS [ARTICLE]

KILLED BY CARS

John Roche, a Brakeman, fleets Terrible Death.

IS LITERALY GROUND TO PIECES.

Accident Occurs While Switching Cars at Monon Depot.—Young Man Resided at Reynolds.

The. most horrible of a long list of fatal accidents occurred at the Monon depot Tuesday at about 1:30 p. m., when John Roche, a brakeman, was run over and cut to fragments. Both the north and south locals were at work at the same time, and the south-bound was followed by "No. 73, a through freight. This .train passed the locals and proceeded on its way. A part of the south-bound local was on the north siding and was hauling a cut of 20 or 25 cars east to the main track, when Roche, the rear brakeman, who was on the south side, climbed on to the front of a 50 ton steel loaded coal car, and from which Chester Zea had just driven away to allow the cut of cars to be hauled out. The ends of the car had platforms some 18 inches wide in the center and these narrowed to nothing at the outside. Roche was not seen until he was falling under the north side of the car, but it seems he attempted to cross over from the south to the north side on the front platform and missed his footing. He hung to the hand-rail an Instant, then his foot was caught under the wheel and he was dragged between the cars. Six cars, two loaded with coal and one with hominy meal and three empties passed over him, cutting off both legs and mangling his arms ahd the lower part of his body in a horrible manner. He lived only a few minutes after Able Grant and Ferd Warne got to him. He asked whether there was any hope for him. When told there was not, he asked that the Parish Priest be called, which was done. Father Meyer hurried to the scene and administered the sacrament of Extreme Unction, while he was still alive but In an unconscious condition, He died soon after and the remains were 'picked up and taken to Wright’s undertaking establishment to be prepared for burial. The body was taken to Reynolds on the 10:55 train Wednesday. A younger brother was a brakeman on through freight No. and saw his brother a few minutes before he met his death; In fact the train was not out of sight until his brother lay in a pile between "the rails literally cut to pieces. He knew nothing of the accident until he reached Monon. He and two other friends returned on the 6:36 p. m. train to this city. “Johnnie” Roche was an exceptional railroad man, having no bad habits, and contributed regularly to the support of his aged parents, worthy old people though poor, with whom he lived at Reynolds. He was unmarried and about 30 years of age. Re met his death just opposite the scene of Ira Cripp’s suicide some years ago and but a few hundred feet from the scene of Mrs. Norris’ death, west of the Babcock elevator, and a double killing on the crossing on the east corporation line.