Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1916 — HAMMOND MAN KILLED HERE [ARTICLE]

HAMMOND MAN KILLED HERE

Crushed Between Cars After Stealing Bide on Monon Train. Alex Joseph, a 19-year-old Sicilian youth of Hammond, was fatally injured in Rensselaer Sunday forenoon after stealing a ride here from 'Hammond, and died about four hours later. Joseph had been accompanying the Hammond football team on several of their excursions this fall, and it is presumed he did not have money to pay his fare here to witness the game with St. Joseph college. He boarded the blind baggage at Hammond and made the trip in safety until the water tank near the depot here was reached. The engineer failed to stop at the water tank and started to back the train just as Joseph started to emerge from his riding place, with the result that he was horribly ( crushed about the abdomen. The Monon physician, Dr. Washburn, was called and had the unfortunate young man taken to the college, where everything possible to save him life was done. He was conscious most of the time and objected to any operation being performed, but his injuries were so serious he died about 3 o’clock. The body was then removed to the Wright undertaking establishment and prepared for burial. Mr. Joseph’s mother lives at Navarota, Texas, and was notified of her son’s death, and wired instructions here to hold the body until her arrival. She was expected to reach here some time yesterday. A letter was found in the young man’s pocket from his mother, telling him to come to her; that she had a good position for . him there. The mother and a sister, both residing in Texas, are the only survivors.