Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1915 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happening* in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. MONON IIRAKEMAN KILLED. George Mcllrath Died oi' Injuries Received at McCoysburg Sunday Morning.

George Mcllrath, brakeman on Monon extra freight No. 71, died at the St. Elizabeth hospital in Lafayette at 7 o’clock Sunday morning from injuries received at McCoysburg six hours previously, when ho stumbled and fell under a freight car that he was setting out in the yards at that place. The discovery of a hot box on the car forced the train to stop at McCoysburg in order to cut it out from the train. Mcllrath was in charge of the operation and was in front and at one side of the rapidly approaching car. He was walking at a fast pace at the side of the track when the members of the train crew were horrified to see him fall directly in front of the car, which passed completely over both legs dose to the thighs. The members of the crew immediately went to his assistance and Conductor T. Catterman, who was in charge of the train, and who is also a telegraph operator, ran to the station which was locked for the night and broke a window. He immediately wired the Monon authorities in Lafayette and Dr. Clayton was sent from Monon to the aid of the injured man. Mcllrath was placed in the caboose of the train and taken to Monon, where the train was left, the engine and caboose going on to Lafayette with Mcllrath. At Lafayette an ambulance Was in waiting and the patient was immediately rushed to St. Elizabeth hospital, Dr. Clayton accompanying him.

Mcllrath was conscious during the entire time that the trip was being made and as he was being taken from the train he calmly asked the ambulance attendants and physicians to break the news to his family as gently as possible. He was kept alive during the trip by injections and no hope was entertained of his life. After reaching the hospital an examination disclosed the fact that he was too low to withstand the shock of an operation, and everything possible was done to make his last hours as easy as possible. Dr. Beasley was called in on the case at the hospital and both doctors agreed that nothing could be done to save the life of the sufferer. His wonderful fortitude as he lay suffering agony was the marvel of the attending physicians. As soon as the wife and family of the unfortunate man could be notified at the family residence, 2027 Stillwell avenue, they came to the hospital to be with him in his last hours. His parents at Frankfort were also notified and went to his bedside. Besides his wife there are four children in the family. He was a man well known in that city and had an enviable reputation as a citizen of hospital to succeed Dr. O. V. Schuin the employ of the road for over seven years.