Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1912 — HORSE KILLED; MAN BADLY HURT [ARTICLE]

HORSE KILLED; MAN BADLY HURT

George Reed and A. 6. Herndon Have Narrow Escape MILK TRAIN STRIKES BUGGY Wednesday Evening and Reed May Ijose Leg as Result—Herndon Not Seriously Injured. k . An accident happened at the railroad crossing at the northwest side tyt town Wednesday evening, near Dave McConnahay’s residence, that it is almost miraculous did not result fatally to one or both of the occupants of the buggy that were struck by the milk train, which was an hour late and still running at high speed, though slowing down a little for the stop at the depot. George Reed, who owns the former James Matheson farm, and A. G. »Herndon, his hired hand, were dt/ving to town in a buggy to attend the Woodmen lodge. They had the storm front on and the night being quite dark and somewhat foggy they could not see scarcely a thing nor see when they reached the crossing. It being an hour the time for the milk train and the “Hoosier Limited’’ they probably were paying little attention to trains. They say they ifeard nothing until just as the engine struck them it whistled. Their horse was squarely on the track, and it was carried about 100 feet, the under part of its d)ody ripped firom the neck back to the rear almost as smoothly as though done with a knife, its entrals falling out, and then thrown to one side where the momentum was so great that it slid on the snow perhaps 100 feet further and struck a telegraph pole and the body wrapped about the- pole. Weed was calling for help, and Herndon, as soon as he got up ran to his assistance. He could not handle him alone, so ran to Dave McConnehay’s home, nearby, and Dave being up town, Mrs. McConnehay went with him to the scene and together they got Reed to the house with the aid of a wheelbarrow, after which Herndon ran all the w r ay up town, about a mlil-e, for the doctors and Mrs. McConnehay telephoned Reed’s brother, Charles Reed, who lives on the Malehow .. farm, a short distance away. He was soon there and assisted in the removal of his brother to his home. Herndon was thrown through the top of the buggy and landed in the ditch, considerably bruised but not seriously hurt. He ran to town for assistance for Mr. Reed, whom he thought was perhaps fatally hurt, and got Marshal Mustard and Drs. Kresler and Hemphill, who hurried out to the scene of the disaster. When the marshal and doctors arrived, it was found that except for a badly broken right leg, about six inches below the knee, the bone protruding through the flesh, and some . scratches, the man was not otherwise seriously injured. Temporary attentioii was given to the limb and he was then taken to his home, where the bone was set. He is reported to be getting along as well as can be expected. ' ' Strange^, as it may appear, the engineer l relt no shock and knew nothing of the accident until the train reached McCoysburg, where it was noticed that there was some of the wrecked buggy and some horseflesh on the front of the engine. The section men were sent back over the line, the train crew thinking the accident had happened near by.‘ After some half hour’s delay it was learned the accident occurred near Rensselaer, and the train proceeded on its. way.