Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 136, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1903 — Another Fatal Accident. [ARTICLE]

Another Fatal Accident.

Brakesman Fred Harness Instantly Killed at Imm. Fred Harness, a brakes man on local freight No. 45 going south was instantly killed at 6 o’clock Friday night in the yards at Mom n The local was juet pulling into the yards„and Harness was sent ahead to turn switch No. l,;so that they could head in on the siding to allow the train due here at 6:32 to pass. He had just closed the switch and had stepped back on the main track when he was struck in the head from behind by engine No. 120 which was backing down from the coal chutes, where they had been taking on a supply of coal. He was thrown off to the side of the tracks when struck and therefore was not run over by the engine, but his head and face were crushed beyond recognition. Harness was in the depot here last night about 5 o’clock while the crew were doing their freight work and seemed in unusually good spirits. He has been braking on the local for the past year and was well liked by all who knew him. He was about 22 years .of age. and had a wife and two children who reside at Moaon.

He belonged to the crew, the regular conductor of which is John McArthur, whose severe injuries at Lowell by nitric acid, last Wednesday have been previously described