September 30, 1908 MOTOR CAR KILLS ONE, HURTS FOUR
COLLIDES WITH LIGHT SPRING WAGON ON BROADWAY.
RUNNING AT 40 MILES HOUR.
RECKLESS CHAUFFEUR SPEEDS AWAY IN THE DARKNESS.
LAUGHS AT HIS VICTIMS.
PEARL GOCHENOUR DEAD; MRS. BUCHER MAY DIE.
Women and Children Hurled High in Air When Crash Came -- Dam- aged Car May Lead to Detection.
No more heartless indifference to suffering and death has been exhibited in Kansas City than occurred last night, when a furiously driven big red touring automobile crashed into a light spring wagon on Broadway, near Hunter avenue, killing a girl of 14 years and badly injuring five other people, two women, two girls and a boy.
The impact of the collision was heard a block away.
When the motor car struck the wagon, tearing it to pieces, women and children, screaming with fright and pain, were hurled high into the air and fell in a heap on the hard curbing, with bits of splintered wood falling all about them. It is said the men in the motor car -- there were two -- looked at the death and suffering they had caused, laughed, turned on more speed and glided away into the enveloping darkness.
HOW ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
The accident occurred at 8:45 o'clock. Besides little Pearl, who was instantly killed, the other four occupants were seriously injured and at least one fatally so. In the spring wagon were Mrs. Jennie A. Bucher, her daughter Florence and Mrs. Frank Gochenour and and two children, Robert and Pearl.
Mrs. Bucher was driving the horse when the accident occurred. The two families are neighbors and often go driving together in the evening. Last night they started to go to Levanthal's bakery, 1819 Grand avenue. The horse was being driven north on Broadway and in order to avoid speeding automobiles Mr. Bucher was driving close into the curbing.
They had passed Hunter avenue and were proceeding at a slow trot when suddenly the front wheels of the wagon were struck by an automobile, and without any warning the women and children were thrown out. The wagon crashed the front part of the wagon against the curbing, leaving it in splinter. Mrs. Bucher and Mrs. Cochenour and Robert Gochenour were thrown up onto the parkway, falling on top of each other. Miss Florence Bucher fell beneath the rear wheel. Little Pearl Gochenour, who had been sitting on her mother's lap, fell beneath the seat of the wagon and the horse was knocked over on top of her, crushing her.
FATHER WAS STUNNED.
Frank Gochenour, the father of the dead child, is a stonemason and resides on Forty-seventh street between Holly and Mercer streets. Mrs. Bucher conducts a grocery store at 825 West Forty-seventh street and her husband, Henry Bucher, is a bartender at the Valerious cafe. Mrs. Bucher is 42 years old, Florence Bucher is 14, Mrs. Alice Gochenour is 37, Robert 14 and the little girl was only 10 years of age. Rober Bucher, 14 years old, had been visiting with Robert Wilson, Thirty-fourth street and Broadway, and was on his way home when he heard the noise the collision made and ran to where the crowd was quickly gathering. He was much affected when he learned that his mother and sister were injured.
As soon as Mr. Bucher heard of the accident, he hurried to the emergency hospital, but his wife was unconscious.
A few minutes after he arrived his two daughters who had stayed at home arrived. They said they had gone to Mr. Gochenour's house and told him of the accident. He was alone in the house with his 3-year-old baby girl and could not leave to go to the hospital. The Bucher girls said that Mr. Gochenour did not seem to realize that his little girl was dead.
HEARD THE CHAUFFEURS LAUGH.
J. D. Skinner, 3508 Baltimore avenue, did not see the accident, but did hear the crash and saw the disappearing automobile. He was on Hunter avenue at the time and running to the corner could see two men in the machine. He said it was running at a rate of forty-five miles an hour when it passed over Hunter avenue and possibly faster after the accident. Many women living in the vicinity came out of their houses in time to see the automobile flying down the road. Some of them said they heard the two men in the machine laugh.
When the police were searching the street around the spot where the wagon was demolished they found part of an automobile lamp and broken parts of glass of the light reflector. Sergeant James A. Jadwin of No. 5 police station telephoned a description of the auto and the men to eleven police stations, and the men in several districts were given the descriptions. Kansas City, Kas., police were also notified.Labels: accident, automobiles, Baltimore avenue, Broadway, children, death, emergency hospital, Grand avenue, No 5 police station, police, retailers September 26, 1908 OFFICER LEAPS FROM CAR; FRACTURES SKULL.
WAS IN PURSUIT OF FLEEING WOMAN PRISONER.
She Had Been Arrested for Creating a Disturbance at Independence Fair -- Officer Masterson May Die.
Pursuing a woman prisoner in Independence last night, Special Officer L. D. Masterson leaped from a rapidly moving street car and struck his head on the curbing, receiving a fracture of the skull, which the physicians believe will prove fatal. Masterson was attending the fair in Independence when Nell Hutchins began disturbing the peace. She was boisterous and refused to be quiet when Masterson requested her to. He placed her under arrest and started to the city on a street car with her.
The car was nearing the center of the city and had just reached a steep hill, down which the car started at a rate of thirty miles an hour. The woman prisoner was occupying a seat across the aisle from the officer and believed she could escape. She got up and ran down the aisle before Masterson realized what she intended to do, and by the time he reached the rear door Nell made a flying leap for freedom. She landed on her head, and, rolling over and over, came a cropper against a trolley pole. Without stopping to think about the speed of the car, the zealous officer followed the example of his prisoner and jumped from the car. He struck his head against the curbing. Persons who witnessed the accident ran to his side, and, seeing that he was seriously injured, called Drs. Joseph W. Green and B. F. O'Daniel. Masterson was taken to the police station in Independence, where the surgeons worked with him an an endeavor to save his life. They said that his skull had been fractured at the base, and that he was suffering from concussion of the brain. He was not expected to live at a late hour last night. Masterson had been foreman of the street department in Independence, and was appointed special policeman during the fair. He lives at 700 West Stone street. The woman prisoner was severely bruised about the face and body.Labels: accident, crime, doctors, Independence, police, streetcar September 24, 1908 STRUCK BY STREET CAR.
Teddy Rush, 7 Years Old, Receives Scalp Wound and Bruises.
Teddy Rush, a 7-year-old boy, was struck by an eastbound street car on the Argentine division of the Metropolitan street railway yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock while crossing the tracks near Ninth street and Strong avenue. The lad started to cross behind one car and was struck by another going in the opposite direction. He was hit by the fender, which knocked him clear of the car. His injuries consist of a scalp wound and bruises about his body. Dr. D. E. Clopper treated the boy's injuries and he was taken to his home, 20 North King street.Labels: accident, Argentine, children, doctors, King street, Ninth street, streetcar, Strong avenue September 23, 1908 TURNED ON HIS GAS JETS.
Then Hoyt Stanley Went Out for a Match -- Biff! Ban-n-g!
Hoyt Stanley, a musician, aged 86 years, of 1219 Tracy avenue, at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon turned on several gas jets in a room of his residence and then discovered that he had no matches. Leaving the gas on, he went in quest of a light, but for some reason did not return until 7 o'clock last night. The he lighted a match. He was blown a considerable distance into the rear yard and later removed to the general hospital, where his badly burned face, hands and legs were attended.Labels: accident, emergency hospital, Seniors, Tracy avenue September 21, 1908 INVENTOR'S FINGERS HURT.
E. T. Winkler Was Making a Demon- stration With New Machine.
E. T. Winkler yesterday had the fingers on his left hand badly lacerated by the blades of a revolving fan. He was at his shop, 712 Oak street, working on a new invention which he expects will revolutionize the manufacture of ice. The blades shaved nearly half of each finger off. Dr. George Dagg dressed the injuries at the emergency hospital.Labels: accident, doctors, emergency hospital, ice, Oak street September 21, 1908 PICNIC PARTY DUMPED.
Their Vehicle Got in Way of a Street Car.
Several members of a picnic party were injured when a wagon in which they were returning from the outskirts of the city was struck by a Rosedale car at Southwest boulevard and Mayflower street shortly before 1 o'clock yesterday morning. Frank M. Spencer, owner of the wagon, of 2040 Penn street, is suffering from a sprained ankle and possible internal injuries. The others escaped with slight bruises.
The accident is said to have resulted from an effort of the driver to pull from one car track ot the other without noticing the approaching car. The force of the collision threw the vehicle on the sidewalk and against the office building of the Rochester Brewing company.Labels: accident, breweries, Penn street, picnics, Southwest boulevard, streetcar September 20, 1908 ROLLED FROM HOBO HILL.
Patrick Bulger Fell to Street Car Tracks and Was Hurt.
Hobo hill, near Second and Walnut streets, where so many men have gone to sleep and then rolled down onto the street car tracks in front of cars, came near claiming another victim last night. Patrick Bulger, 28 years old, a citizen of Independence, Mo., had gone down to take the interurban train for home. He missed it and fell asleep on the fatal hillside.
Presently a Holmes street car came bowling along and Bulger awoke with a start. He started so far that he rolled to the tracks and against the car just in time to be caught under the coat by rear steps. He was scraped along the spine, lost several square inches of skin and was dragged thirty feet to the tracks of the Kansas City Southern railway. The ambulance took him to the emergency hospital, where his injuries were dressed. A pint bottle of whiskey which Bulger carried in his coat pocket was not even cracked.
Many men have been killed and many injured at this very point. On the afternoon of September 5 Frank Nugent, a citizen of anywhere his hat was allowed to hang, performed the sleeping, waking and rolling feat. He lost his left leg just above the ankle and is now in the general hospital.Labels: accident, alcohol, emergency hospital, Independence, Kansas City Southern, Second street, streetcar, Walnut Street September 12, 1908 STEAMER TENNESSEE IS SUNK BY A SNAG.
IN EIGHT FEET OF WATER NEAR MOUTH OF LITTLE BLUE.
Much of the Cargo Is Saved and No One Is Injured -- Extent of Damage to Boat Not Known.
With a large hole torn in the bow, the steamer Tennessee, en route to Kansas City from St. Louis, sank in eight feet of water near the mouth of the Little Blue river, about twenty-six miles below Kansas City, yesterday morning at 11 o'clock. Efforts to raise the steamer yesterday afternoon were not successful, although the government snagboat, Missouri, and its crew worked all afternoon. The damage to the cargo will not be great.
The Tennessee, a freight and passenger steamer, which is the property of the Kansas City Transportation and Steamboat Company, was due in Kansas City yesterday afternoon, and had a successful trip from St. Louis until the snag was struck. Owing to the low stage of the river, the pilot was unable to tell the exact position of the snag, and a large hole had been torn in the vessel before the danger was realized. Captain Earp, who was in charge of the boat, gave orders at once that as much of the cargo as possible be removed to the barge, and it was due to his prompt action that much of the freight was saved. The steamer carried a fair load of freight consigned to about 100 different merchants in Kansas City.
Owing to the nature of the river banks at the place where the accident occurred, it was impossible to beach the boat, and it was allowed to sink. Several passengers were aboard, but none was injured. Because of the low stage of the river the steamer's decks are above water.
Word of the accident to the steamer was received in Kansas City about 12 o'clock yesterday, and William Volker, president of the company, left on the snagboat for the scene.
As soon as the snagboat arrived workmen built staging form the steamer to the banks, and much of the cargo was removed. It was impossible for the owners last night to estimate the damage to the steamer.Labels: accident, boats, St Louis, Steamboat Tennessee August 14, 1908 CORN IN A BABY'S NOSE.
Doctors May Operate to Relieve Lit- tle Charles Baker.
Charles Baker, 2 years old, who lives with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baker, at 2204 Tracy avenue, ws out in the yard yesterday while his mother was feeding the chickens. Picking up a large grain of corn, the boy inserted it into his nose, and the more his mother tried to get the corn out the further in it was pushed. Late last night young Charles was in the hands of two physicians who were discussing whether or not to operate to remove the obstruction. Mr. Baker is a Gamewell man at police headquarters.Labels: accident, children, Tracy avenue August 13, 1908 NEWSBOYS MOURN FOR LEE.
They Gather About the Bier of a Victim of a Street Car Accident.
Accompanied by many newsboys with whom he associated in life, the body of William A. Lee, Jr., the newsboy who was killed by being crushed between a streetcar and a beer van at Eleventh and Main streets, last Monday, was taken to the Institutional church, Admiral boulevard and Holmes street, where funeral services were conducted at 2 o'clock p. m. yesterday afternoon.
Charles W. Moore, founder of the Institutional church, delivered the eulogy, and before he had concluded the audience was visibly affected. Mr. Moore dwelt at considerable length of the excellent qualities of the dead newsboy.
Young Lee had been a member of the Light Bearers' Club for some time, and had been considered one of its most ardent workers. Newsboys of the city contributed toward defraying the funeral expenses. William A. Lee, the father, who had been released from jail by order of the court sufficiently long to attend the funeral, accompanied the grief stricken mother to the church and cemetery. Owing to the circumstances it is now thought that Lee will be permanently released with the understanding that he secure employment at once and care for his wife.Labels: accident, children, death, Eleventh street, Institutional church, jail, Main street, streetcar August 8, 1908 "DARE DEVIL" EVANS IS HURT.
Fell From Chute While Riding Bi- cycle at Fairmount.
"Dare Devil" Billy Evans fell from his chute while riding a bicycle at Fairmount park last night and was severely injured. Evans does a leap-the gap act. The rain had soaked the pine board of which the elevation was built and his bicycle slid off the track fifteen feet above ground. Evans was taken to the hotel in the park, where a physician attended him. His injuries consisted almost entirely of bruises.Labels: accident, daredevils, fairmount park, hotels, weather July 26, 1908 USED VINEGAR, BEER AND LARD.
Sidewalk Restoratives Applied to Fit Sufferer in the North End.
Little Alphonso Baker, a 10-year-old negro boy from Pine Bluff, Ark., fell on the sidewalk at Fourth and Holmes streets yesterday afternoon in a fit. The Italians ran out of the stores nearby and endeavored to revive him. One man poured vinegar over the boy, while another emptied a bottle of beer in his face. An old woman greased his lips with lard. Somebody thought of the emergency hospital and had the ambulance called. Alphonso was treated by Dr. J. Park Neal at the emergency hospital.Labels: accident, children, doctors, Fourth street, Holmes street, immigrants, visitors July 24, 1908
SLEEPS IN A WINDOW; FALLS OUT ON A WOMAN.
Major Richardson, Negro, Injures Himself and Mrs. Dave Gross- man by Falling From Perch. Major Richardson, a negro stonemason, 30 years old, has a bad habit of siting down in the window sill of his room in the second story at 1802 East Eighteenth street and falling asleep. Several times his roommate has narrowly saved him from falling out on the granitoid paving below. Yesterday, Major did an unusually hard day's work in the hot sun and about 10 o'clock last night he set in the open window and, of course, fell asleep. Just at the moment that Major was slipping into slumberland, Mrs. Dave Grossman, 45 years old, who lives in the shop below, was carrying a tub of waste water out into the street, assisted by her daughter, Mary. As Mrs. Grossman opened the screed door directly below where Richardson was sitting, the latter entered the gates of sleep and came tumbling down upon her. In his descent one of his feet passed through the transom over the door and he was turned over so that he alighted on Mrs. Grossman's chest on his head. Then he bounced off and fell on the paving, almost fracturing his skull. Mrs. Grossman's shrieks called neighbors to the scene and they took her into the house. The ambulance from the Walnut street police station was called, and the negro was taken to the general hospital, where he was reported in a serious condition last night. Mr. Grossman refused to go to the hospital at first, but after Dr. E. L. Ginsberg was called he recommended that she be taken to the German hospital, which was done. Mrs. Grossman's chest was severely bruised. Mrs. Grossman is the wife of Dave Grossman, an express driver, and had charge of the little grocery store. She has four children and lives in rooms behind the store. They have only been in the neighborhood two weeks. Labels: accident, doctors, Eighteenth street, general hospital, German hospital, Walnut street police station July 8, 1908 BRONCO BUSTER MAY DIE.
Oran A. Russell Was Thrown From Horse at Forest Park.
Oran A. Russell, 26 years old, a rider with the J W. Riggs Wild West show at Forest park, was thrown from a horse last night at 7 o'clock and was very seriously injured Russell had never before mounted the horse, which was said to be an unconquered bronco. At an unguarded moment, though a practiced rider, he was thrown from the animal in such a manner as to light with his abdomen on a tent stake.
At the emergency hospital, where Russell was treated by Dr. J. P. Neal, his injury was diagnosed as a rupture of the spleen. Russell said his home is in Kalamazoo, Mich. He has been with the Wild West show five weeks, three weeks of that time at Forest park. The young man's mishap was witnessed by a crowd which was attending the show.
Last last night Russell was said to be dying. He asked that in case of his death his mother, Mrs. Charlotte Flatt, at Kalamazoo be notified. His father, Austin Russell, also lives there.Labels: accident, animals, doctors, emergency hospital, forest park July 6, 1908 "COCAINE MARY" IS DEAD.
Picturesque North End Character Falls From Second Story Widow.
Minnie Palmer, who was better known to the residents of the North end as "Cocaine Mary," died at the general hospital at 5:30 o'clock last night from concussion of the brain, received by falling from a second story window to the pavement twenty feet below, shortly after 1 o'clock Sunday morning. She was seen about 1 o'clock sitting on the window ledge, and told a woman who lived in the house that she was trying to get a little fresh air before going to bed. It is thought she went to sleep and lost her her balance.
The woman was found at 5 o'clock Sunday morning by Philip J. Welch, night jailer at police headquarters. He called an ambulance and had her taken to the emergency hospital. Later she was removed to the general hospital, where an operation was performed in an effort to relieve the pressure of bone against the brain. Minnie Palmer lived at the rooming house on the southwest corner of Third and Main streetLabels: accident, death, emergency hospital, general hospital, Main street, narcotics, North end, rooming house, Third street, women June 29, 1908
BOY IS KILLED BY A BASEBALL
THROWN BY MARION GREEN, 11 YEARS OLD.
MORRIS CROWE IS THE VICTIM.
HE WAS ALSO 11 YEARS OLD. AN ACCIDENT.
Little Sufferer Dies as the Angelus Is Calling the Parish to Prayer. Thrower of the Ball Crazed by Grief.
While playing a game of ball yesterday morning, Morris Crowe, 11 years of age, was struck on the head by a pitched ball, and died a few hours later from the injury. Morris, with six of his playmates, was playing ball in the side yard of James Green's home, 1122 Prospect avenue. Marion Green, the 11-year-old son of Mr. Green, was in the act of throwing the ball to John Crowe, Morris's brother, when Morris attempted to cross the yard. In crossing he ran directly into the course of the ball, and before his little friends could warn him of the danger, the ball had struck him fairly on the left side of his head, just above the ear.
Morris staggered and cried for help. His brother and Marion Green ran to him just as he fell to the ground, unconscious. The lads carried Morris to the terrace and began to throw water in his face in an attempt to revive him. Marion ran into the house and told his mother of the accident. Mrs. Green came out and told the boys to carry Morris into the house, but Morris had regained consciousness and refused to go in, saying that he wanted to go home. Mrs. Green bathed the boy's face and his bruise, then bandaged his head and his friends took him to his home, 2711 East Eleventh street.
ABLE TO WALK HOME.
Morris seemed to have recovered from the effect of the blow on his head and was able to walk home with little difficulty. His conversation was rational and he ate dinner as usual. After dinner was over he began to grow rather stupid, and his mother decided that he should have medical attention. A physician was called, and said there would be no serious result from the injury, but that the lad would naturally be somewhat bewildered by so hard a blow on the head.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon Mrs. Crowe noticed that her son was growing worse, and immediately called in another doctor. This doctor informed Mrs. Crowe that there was no chance for her son's recovery, and she would better send for a priest at once. Two hours later the child was dead.
When Marion Green heard of Morris's death he became frantic and his talk was irrational. He dept repeating: "I killed him; I killed him." Neither Mr. Green nor his wife is able to do anything to quiet him, and he mourns over the death of his little schoolmate and playfellow bitterly. Mrs. Crowe said that she realized the little Green boy was entirely blameless, and that he felt the death of Morris as keenly as did she.
DIED AS BELL TOLLED.
At the time of the accident Mr. Green, who is connected with the T. Green Grocery Company, was away from home. He did not arrive until after dinner, and at that time it was not thought that Morris's injuries would result fatally. It was not until 7 o'clock that the Green family heard of the lad's death.
Just as the angelus was ringing in St. Aloysius church, which is located only a few doors west of the Crowe home, Father J. C. Kelly, four Catholic sisters, Mrs. Crowe and her family were gathered at Morris's bedside. They sank to the floor on their knees in silent prayer, only to arise and find that life had left the child's body while the angelus was calling the parish to evening prayer.
John W. Crowe, the father of Morris, is a conductor on the Santa Fe railroad and was in Texas at the time of his son's death. Mrs. Crowe telegraphed the train dispatcher of his district and received the assurance that her husband would be released from duty as soon as he could be informed of his son's death. He is not expected until tonight.
Morris and Marion Green had been fast friends. Both of them were in the same class at St. Aloysious school. Almost every day the boys of the neighborhood would gather at the Green home for games of some sort, and Morris and Marion were the favorites of the crowd.
CAUSED A CONCUSSION.
They boys who were playing ball at the time of the accident said that the ball which struck Morris was thrown with such force as to rebound from his head and strike a tree some feet distant. After striking the tree the ball again rebounded and rolled quite a distance away. The physician who attended Morris last said that the blow on the head caused a concussion of the brain and it was from the hemorrhage that death resulted.
When the news of Morris's death spread in the neighborhood, the little friends of the boy visited the Crowe home, each expressing with unmistakable sincerity, his sorrow.
Morris was one of three children in the Crowe family. He is survived by an older brother and a baby sister.Labels: accident, children, churches, death, Eleventh street, Prospect avenue, railroad, schools, sports June 26, 1908
BURNING SULFUR MARS A WEDDING.
BROTHER OF THE BRIDE SE- VERELY HURT.
HAND SERIOUSLY INJURED.
ANOTHER GUEST OVERCOME BY SULPHUROUS FUMES.
Home Where Ceremony Was Being Held Set on Fire Accidentally. The "Cutups" Find New Source of Torment.
Jokers made an attempt to fumigate the residence of Mrs. N. P. Maupin, 3609 Wyandotte street, Wednesday night while Mrs. Maupin's daughter was being married in the parlor to Harry Pierce, a furnishing goods dealer. As a result of the prank Robert Maupin, brother of the bride, may have an injured left hand the rest of his life, and J. J. Foster, a wedding guest, is still confined at his home, 2001 Woodland avenue, ill from inhaling deadly sulphur fumes.
The wedding ceremony was just performed and the formalities of bride-greeting were on, when Robert Maupin left the room to investigate the source of sulphur fumes, which had annoyed the guests during the last few minutes of the wedding service. He entered a rear room and was almost overcome by the fume before he discovered the tray on which the sulphur was burning. The jokers who placed the sulphur inside had closed the window again and Mr. Maupin was forced to raise the sash with one hand while he held the tray of burning sulphur in the other. The window "stuck," he jerked impatiently, and the tray was overturned. The burning mass ran over Mr. Maupin's left hand and he screamed in pain. In the meantime, J. J. Foster, who had gone in search of Maupin, heard the latter's startled cry and rushed into the room. The window curtains were ablaze and the carpet was burning. The deadly fumes prostrated Mr. Foster beore he could get out of the room, after putting out the fire and aiding Mr. Maupin with the window and the sulphur tray. Dr. Allen L. Porter was called from his residence at 3001 Central street. He revived Mr. Foster and treated Mr. Maupin's hand. Mr. Foster was then taken to his home and later another physician was called in consultation. Last night Mr. Foster was unable to leave his house. He insisted last night on going to the telephone and talking to Maupin. He had intended offering a reward for the detection of the jokers who caused his injury. Mr. Maupin, however, said he would prefer not to prosecute because he is sure the fumigating method was taken by friends, who merely tried to frighten the bride and groom. The flesh was burned from Maupin's hand, and the attending physician stated that some of the finger joints may remain stiff. Mr. Pierce and his bride, who was Miss L. Maupin, will leave tonight for a honeymoon tour of California and the Pacific coast. Their departure was postponed on account of the serious injury to the bride's brother and their guest. Labels: accident, Central street, doctors, Fire, pranks, telephone, wedding, Woodland avenue June 7, 1908 JOSEPH H. RAYBURN IS DEAD.
Assistant Fire Chief Was Injured While Trying to Spare Another.
Joseph H. Rayburn, assistant fire chief, died last night at 6:30 o'clock from injuries sustained in an accident while going to a fire May 19. Mr. Rayburn was at home for lunch, when an alarm of fire from the home of Dr. B. F. Watson, 2401 Wabash avenue, was turned in. Mr. Rayburn used his buggy in going for his meals, so the alarm was telephoned to his house, and he started to the scene of the fire. Rayburn, in driving on Wabash, collided with the cart of a by delivering papers. In attempting to avert the collision, he swerved sharply, turning his buggy over and throwing him against an iron lamp post.
He was unconscious when picked up and taken to St. Joseph's hospital. The injuries were thought not to be dangerous, but peritonitis developed later.
Mr. Rayburn lived at 3031 Prospect avenue with his wife and two sons. He was 47 years of age.
Mr. Rayburn was one of the best liked men on the fire department. He was appointed to the department and assigned to No. 8 engine company, December 21, 1886. He was promoted to a captain November 4, 1895, and placed in charge of No. 18 engine company. January 7, 1907, he was appointed sixth assistant chief, and placed in command of engine company No. 14, located at Twenty-sixth and Prospect avenue.
The funeral will be held Monday morning at 9:30 o'clock at the residence, 3031 Prospect avenue. Services will be held at the New Annunciation church, corner of Linwood and Benton boulevards, at 10 o'clock. Interment will be in Mount St. Mary's cemetery.Labels: accident, cemetery, death, doctors, Fire, Funeral, hospitals, Prospect avenue, Wabash avenue June 3, 1908 DIDN'T BELIEVE HE WAS DEAD.
Relatives Hold Body of Man Killed in an Explosion.
The bursting of a plug in an ammonia carboy in the refrigerator of the Fowler packing plant in the West bottoms at 10 o'clock yesterday forenoon, caused the death of J. E. Baldwin, 33 years old, foreman in the employ of the company. Part of the plug struck Baldwin on the forehead, crushing in the skull. He was taken at once to his home, 862 Orville avenue, Kansas City, Kas., in the police ambulance, but died a few minutes after having arrived there.
Relatives of the deceased yesterday refused to let the body be moved to the undertaker until it could be examined by Coroner A. J. Davis. They said he had met with a similar accident once before and that he had laid in a death-like stupor for hours and was believed to be dead, but finally came to his senses.
Baldwin was single and lived with his parents The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is the ought atmospheric conditions may have had something to do with it.Labels: accident, death, Kansas City Kas, West bottoms May 25, 1908 BOY'S HEAD CUT OFF BY TRAIN OF CARS.
Either Rolled Onto Tracks or Fell While Catching Ride in the Burlington Yards.
Mangled beyond recognition, and the head missing, the body of Martin Pretzel, aged 17 years, a son of Joseph Pretzel, and employee of the C. H. Conklin Ice Company, residing at 1657 Washington avenue, was found on the Burlington tracks, directly under the Fourth street viaduct, at 4:30 o'clock yesterday morning by Louis Hommold, a laborer. He reported the discovery to the No. 2 police station. Patrolman James McGraw was sent to make an investigation but could find nothing by which to base the identity of the body and ordered it removed to the Eylar Bros. undertaking establishment.
At noon yesterday the parents of young Pretzel became uneasy about their son's absence, and hearing of the finding of the body investigated. Harvey E. Bailey, a son-in-law residing with the Pretzels, identified the pantaloons as the ones which he had given the boy a short time ago, and the father thought the coat and vest were the same as worn by his son when he left home. Beside the body as it lay on the track, was found a hat which belonged to Lee Ganders of 413 Landis court, the dead boy's companion. The two boys, who worked at neighboring grocery stores, left home after work Saturday night, saying they might go to St. Joseph on a fishing trip.
Lee Ganders reached his home at 4 o'clock yesterday morning, and explained to his mother that he had gone to the Fourth street viaduct with young Pretzel, that from there they had intended catching a train for St. Joseph. While waiting for the train the boys stretched themselves on the ground beside the track and fell asleep.
"About 3:30 o'clock in the morning," continued young Ganders, "I was awakened by the noise made by a passing passenger train. As the cars passed by I missed Pretzel, who had substituted the hat he wore for the one worn by myself. Thinking that he had either caught the train or gone home, I started for my own home."
The inference is that while asleep young Pretzel may have rolled on to the tracks and was run over or he might have attempted to mount one of the platforms of the moving cars and fell under the wheels. No part of the $1 given the deceased by his mother was found in his clothing.Labels: accident, death, Landis court, No 2 police station, railroad, St.Joseph, undertakers, Washington avenue May 18, 1908 HIS LONG FALL WAS FATAL.
Charles Pepperdine Dies From Result of Commerce Building Accident.
Death came early yesterday morning to Charles Pepperdine, the young man who twice in ten days fell from scaffolding sheer down the face of the walls of the Commerce skyscraper. Two borthers who live here were with him at Wesley hospital when he died. His chief concern in the midst of his suffering was that his mother down at Bowling Green, Mo., should be spared the knowlege of his condition. He was her eldest and favorite son. His last drop Saturday morning from the thirteenth story to a substantial skylight in the well of the building above the second floor had mutilated his limbs, and a rope he held to had burned his arm to the bone.
Pepperdine's mother and father, who usually live in Kansas City through the winter, went back to their old home at Bowling Green three weeks ago. The men of the family are brick masons and it was in pointing up the work of the Commerce building that Charles Pepperdine was engaged, both on May 6 and last Saturday, when he fell. He was in the habit of laughing at danger and when the first Commerce accident occurred, he and the brick washer who was with him, joked each other as they hung to a rope between the sixth and seventh stories.
Saturday one of the two men stood up on the ladder platform and forced it out from the building. A guard rope which both men grabbed for had become detatched and the dangling ropes they caught after falling did not do uch to check their descent.
Coroner Thompson will hold an autopsy on the body of Pepperdine this morning at 9 o'clock and the remains will be taken to Bowling Green for burial.
L. F. Trout, the other victim of the fall, is said to have a fair chance for recovery. There has been no decided change in his condition.Labels: accident, Commerce building, death Date Here
FELL 11 STORIES IN COMMERCE BUILDING.
LANDED ON SKYLIGHT AND RE- CEIVED BROKEN BONES.
L. E. Trout and Charles Pepperdine Plunged From High-Swinging Scaffold -- Injuries May Be Fatal.
L. F. Trout, 411 Chestnut street, and Charles Pepperdine, 3112 Bell street, were working in the light shaft of the Bank of Commerce building at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when their scaffold broke, precipitating them from the thirteenth to the second floor, a distance of eleven stores. The men landed on the heavy glass skylight just above the second floor.
Trout sustained a fracture of the right thigh and a large muscle in the thigh was severed near the knee. Three bones in his right foot were broken and a gash was cut in his scalp. Both of Trout's hands were burned almost to the bone where he held to a steel cable part of the way down. That fact, however, broke his fall and may be the cause of yet saving his life.
Pepperdine was more seriously injured and the attending physicians said they had little hope for his recovery. He has a compound fracture of the left knee and right ankle. His right elbow was burned to the bone by a small rope to which he attempted to hold. He was also internally injured.
In an attempt to lower the scaffold to another floor, it is said to have swerved and then broken. As the men grabbed for a safety line, which is always on the back of a scaffold, just about the hips, they found that it was not fast. That all took very little time, for they grabbed for the line as they fell, each uttering a cry that was heard all through the big building. Both were taken to the Wesley hospital, Eleventh and Harrison streets.
Pepperdine had a narrow escape from death at the same building just about the same time of day on the afternoon of May 6. He, with Paul Jacoby, was washing the building at the seventh story on the south side. In trying to pass the ladder was pushed out from the building. Both men fell from the ladder, but managed to catch the safety rope at the back of the scaffold. Hanging to that they managed to get their toes on the sill of the window below. Then they pulled their bodies up and climbed into the window. Both had received a ducking from a bucket of water which fell from the ladder with them. They went home, got into dry clothes, and went back to work. A large crowd of people on the street witnessed the narrow escape of Pepperdine and Jacoby, but there were few who saw the fall yesterday. The two men treated the accident lightly on May 6, joking each other while dangling in midair.Labels: accident, Bell street, Chestnut street, Commerce building, death, Eleventh street, Harrison street, hospitals May 16, 1908 COOKED BY ESCAPING STEAM.
C. D. Markle May Die From Result of Exploding Heater.
C. D. Markle, aged 52, 2138 Locust street, Kansas City, Kas., may die as the result of being scalded by the explosion of a hot water heater in the Merchants' Refrigerating Company plant at 550 Walnut street at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. Markle is an engineer. His flesh was cooked from head to foot, and he was taken to the emergency hospital after the accident, where he was treated. Later he was taken home.Labels: accident, emergency hospital, Kansas City Kas, Walnut Street May 7, 1908 CLUNG TO ROPE FOR DEAR LIFE.
TWO WORKMEN FALL FROM SWINGING SCAFFOLD.
SEVEN STORIES ABOVE STREET.
SWUNG THEMSELVES TO WIN- DOW AND ESCAPED DEATH.
Cleaning Exterior of Commerce Building -- A Careless Move Caused the Accident -- They Make Light of It. 
SEVEN STORIES ABOVE THE STREET THESE TWO MEN CLUNG TO A ROPE FOR DEAR LIFE.
The falling of a large bucket of water and a brush on the sidewalk on the south side of the Commerce building about 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon caused many passers to look up. Dangling from a rope beneath a scaffold almost seven stories above the street were two men.
In the crowd which quickly gathered were three women. The spectators all looked on with bated breath while their hands were tightly clenched. Lower and lower the two men dangled. Just as it seemed that one or both would surely lose their hold and drop to certain death, one of the men managed to get the toe of his right foot on the ledge of a window on the sixth story.
"Oh Lord!" cried one of the women. "I can't look any more. They're both going to drop!"
"Hush up," came from a little nervous man. "You make me dizzy. Don't let 'em hear you say that."
This all took place in a very few seconds. While it was going on the man who had reached the window ledge with his toe managed, by a superhuman effort, to draw himself up. Once there, he assisted his companion, whose toe had by that time touched the ledge and both were soon standing side by side in the window.
THEY WERE COOL ABOUT IT.
"Good boy! Good boy! shouted a spectator. "You are all right."
The two men did not appear to hear him. They walked about on the window ledge as if they were on a flat tin roof. One of them tried the window. It opened, the men entered, and the crowd sighed with relief.
The two men who came so near death are Charles Pepperdine of 3112 Bell street and Paul Jacoby, who rooms near Fifth and Walnut streets. They work for the Ben P. Shirley Company of Indianapolis, Ind., which has the contract for washing the big building and "pointing" the brick and terra cotta work. One washed while the other "pointed."
They were working on a scaffold made from a ladder. Ropes and pulleys are attached at both ends and securely fastened at the top of the fifteen-story building. Men who do that class of skyscraper work become careless. One of the became so yesterday, for, as the two men attempted to pass on the narrow platform, he placed a hand against the side o the building to steady himself. This caused the scaffold to shoot out from beneath their feet.
CAUGHT THE ROPE.
The two men shot off first, quickly followed by the big bucket of water and brush. At the back of the men, just about even with their hips, was a safety rope to keep them from falling outwards. Just as they fell both managed to grab that rope. It was attached to the two upright ropes, or "falls," as they are called. The weight of the men drew the two long ropes closer and closer together as the men dropped lower and lower. It was while in this position that Pepperdine managed to get his foot on the window ledge, and Jacoby was soon drawn to safety.
The men made their way back to the next floor and were soon on their ladders, ready to go to work. But as both had got a ducking from the big pail of water, they were excused to go home and get dry clothes.
"Nervous? Scared? Who, me? Not much. That wasn't any more than happens every day. Some of us slip or fall a ways, but there is not always a gaping crowd to rubber and make a hero out of the incident."
"GIGGLING ALL THE TIME."
"I was giggling all the time," said Jacoby. "Just like a woman when she is tickled at something and can't laugh out loud. Just like kids in church, you know. I was kidding 'Pep' for the way he was attempting to swim in the air."
"No I did not look upon the incident as at all unusual," said Mr. Shirley, who has charge of the work. "It may have looked odd to the people in the street, but when you take into consideration that most every man I have can climb a rope hand over hand for seven stories at least, you can see that that lessens their danger. They are just like cats, always light feet down, and if their hands touch anything that looks like a rope they are sure to grab it and skin right back to where they fell from . Both men will be at work in the morning. They didn't go home because they were nervous."
There are two other scaffolds on the same side of the building on which there are from two to three men at work. They laughed heartily at the predicament of their fellow workmen, especially because they got a ducking, and thought the whole thing was a joke.
RECALLS A SIMILAR ACCIDENT.
While the Long building as in course of erection a workman was laying terra cotta on the cornice at the very top, fourteen stories from the street. The piece he was laying fell from its place and the man with it. Near at hand was a rope with which the material was hauled to the roof. End over end the man went twice. Then his hands touched the rope and he grasped it, slid a few feet and remained still.
After getting his breath he went back to the top, hand over hand, got another piece of terra cotta to fit in the place of the one which was smashed on the pavement, slapped some mortar on to hold it in place and went to work. His hands were badly burned from "skinning" the rope in his fall of thirty feet. Otherwise he was alright.Labels: accident, Bell street, Commerce building, Fifth street, R A Long building, Walnut Street April 24, 1908 VISITED BY HIS COUNTRYMEN.
Ekim Milcheff of Razgad, Villaye Dikilitash, Finds Friends.
Ekim Milcheff, Razgad, Villaye Dikilitash, Bulgaria. That is the full name and home address of the unfortunate Bulgarian who has been in the general hospital since April 12, unable to tell anything of himself. His English vocabulary consisted of "Arkansas, sawmill" and "me much sick." His left hand had been badly injured, evidently in a sawmill, and the index and second fingers had to be amputated.
F. H. Ream, spiritual director of the Helping Hand, interested himself in the man and endeavored to talk to him. Mr. Ream speaks several languages, but was unable to make himself understood with any of them. Yesterday morning the unfortunate man's story was published, and Mr. Ream requested that some Bulgarian go and see him. Several called upon the injured man at the general hospital yesterday, and the delight of the lonely man at being able to talk with a countryman was unbounded.
They learned that Milcheff has a wife Nidela Milcheff, at home in the little Bulgarian village. His next best friend in this country -- he has no relatives here -- is Netko Ruseff of Leslie, Ark. It was learned that Milcheff had been working at a sawmill forty-six miles from Leslie, Ark., called Camp No. 7. He did not know the name of the firm. The hospital authorities will correspond with Ruseff and his Bulgarian friends said they would notify his wife. His unfortunate condition may also be taken up with the nearest Bulgarian consul.
Milcheff, after his injury, was subjected to some rude surgery. He must have been shipped here, for he was found at Union depot. The circular saw had torn its way through his left hand, between the second and third fingers, almost into the wrist. The surgeon had tied the blood vessels with silk. He must have run out of that, as part of the man's hand had been sewed together with ordinary twine string. The hand had become badly infected and Dr. J. P. Neal, who treated him here, said that his suffering could not have been told in mere words.Labels: accident, doctors, general hospital, Helping Hand, immigrants, Union depot April 23, 1908 ONLY FLOWERS CAN SPEAK TO STRANGER.
MAN THOUGHT TO BE BUL- GARIAN LIES IN HOSPITAL.
No One Has Been Found Who Can Talk With Him and Learn His Home -- Bouquet Brings Tears.
If any one in Kansas City can talk the Bulgarian language, he will do an act of charity if he will call upon F. H. Ream, religious director of the Helping Hand institute, and assist him in learning the identity of a Bulgarian now at the general hospital.
The unfortunate man has been tried with Polish, Slav, Russian, German and many other European tongues, but to all he is dumb. He has indicated that he can speak Bulgarian. On April 12 the man was found at the Union depot, suffering from a badly injured left hand. He was taken to the general hospital, where it was discovered that a circular saw had ploughed its way into his left hand between the second and ring fingers. It became necessary to amputate both the index and second fingers. The saw tore through almost to the man's wrist.
All day long the poor fellow sits in his ward, unable to say a thing but "Arkansas," "sawmill" and "me much sick," when spoken to.
While in the flower store of Miss J. E. Murray yesterday, Ream told the story of the melancholy Bulgarian with the injured hand.
"So far from home," he said, "badly injured, and can't speak a word of English, but the few he says all the time."
"I wonder if flowers could talk to him," Miss Murray said.
"They speak to all nations alike," said Ream, "especially to the unfortunate."
Miss Murray fixed up a bouquet f roses, bright red American Beauties, carnations of all shades and interspersed them with violets. She told Ream to take them to the injured man. He did, returning to the hospital to do so.
"It was the most pathetic scene I ever witnessed," said Ream last night. "When I went in I walked up and laid the bouquet in the man's good hand. Without looking up he said, 'Me much sick,' but when he felt the damp flowers he grasped the stems and looked up as if to say some mistake has been made. I indicated that the flower were for him and said so in Polish. His face flushed, bowed among the flowers. 'Me? Me?' he asked, excitedly, still clinging to the blossoms. I had to indicate again that they were all for him.
"Once more the poor fellow buried his face among the flowers," concluded Ream, "but when he lifted his head, big tears were streaming down his cheeks. The flowers had spoken to him."
The unfortunate is between 39 and 45 years old. From signs made by him, the nurse, who has been attending him, believes that he has two daughters somewhere. He will point to her, hold up two fingers and then pat his own breast.
It is believed that the man was injured at a sawmill somewhere in Arkansas and was sent into Kansas City to be cared for by the city.
"If I can find someone who can talk to him," said Ream, "I think we will learn where his people are."Labels: accident, flowers, general hospital, Helping Hand, immigrants, retailers, Union depot April 23, 1908 GIRL IS SCALDED TO DEATH.
Upsets Bucket of Water With Which Mother is Scrubbing.
While her mother was preparing to scrub the kitchen Tuesday afternoon, 2-year-old Helen Horton was playing on the floor. She caught the rim of a bucket of scalding suds which stood near, pulling it over and scalding her body from shoulders to feet. She died in the South Side hospital yesterday afternoon.
The accident occurred at 3496 Harrison street, the home of H. L. Courtwright, father of Mrs. Horton, with whom the Hortons reside. The child's father is Henry Horton.Labels: accident, children, death, Harrison street April 20, 1908 BURNED BY ELECTRIC WIRE.
Carroll Freeman, Argentine, Was Un- conscious From the Shock.
While twenty children were playing at the foot of Ash street at Argentine yesterday morning one of them, Carroll Freeman, caught hold of a guy wire, which extends across the tops of two telephone poles, and down to a stake in the ground, and before his comrades could pull him free of the wire, he was seriously burned. Clyde Foster was the first lad to rescue and his quickness probably saved Carroll's life.
Carroll's left hand was burned to the bone, and the toes on both his feet were scorched. His rescuer was slightly burned on the hands from taking hold of Carroll's garments and clinging while he pulled the helpless boy from the wire.
Walter Freeman, Carroll's father, who lives at 202 North Eleventh street, said last night that the boy would recover. After being brought home in the morning the lad remained unconscious until six o'clock in the evening, when he came to himself and rallied rapidly. The Foster boy lives on Ruby street, a block west from Ash. He is 13 and Carroll is of about the same age.
Walter Freeman explains the accident by saying that an electric light wire, carrying a heavy voltage, sagged and touched the guy wire, where it crossed from one telephone pole to the other. The end of the guy wire, which ran toward the ground, being attached to a dry post, had no opportunity to ground the electric wire current. When the lad took hold of the wire, the current grounded through his body, Freeman says. That explanation would account for the boy's toes being burned.Labels: accident, Argentine, children, Utilities April 3, 1908 UNKNOWN WOMAN KILLED BY TRAIN.
RUN DOWN ON BELT LINE NEAR PARK AVENUE.
DIES IN GENERAL HOSPITAL.
REFUSES TO GIVE ANY INFORMA- TION ABOUT HERSELF.
Carried Sunday School Tract With Little Girl's Name on It, but the Owner Does Not Know Her.
A young woman who was crushed by the wheels of a Belt Line engine last night at 7:30 o'clock, died tow and a half hours later at the city hospital, without being identified. The scene of the accident was where the Belt tracks are fifteen feet below street level, half way between Brooklyn and Park avenues. It is near Nineteenth street.
The woman was walking eastward and must have entered the cut three blocks west, at the street level.
To avoid the Santa Fe local No. 59, westbound, she stepped upon the other main track, and a Milwaukee engine, eastbound, struck her. Pilot Al Williams was riding to work on the engine but neither he nor the engineer, James Spencer, saw her, nor did the fireman But the flagman on the freight train did.
She lay by the track, her left arm almost severed at the shoulder, and with a contusion, possibly a fracture, on each side of her head. A broad leather cushion from the car was brought and she was carried to Eighteenth street and Brooklyn avenue to the office of Dr. I. E. Ruhl, who saw that she was dying. The police ambulance from No. 4 police station, in charge of Patrolman Smith Cook and Dr. C. V. Bates, arrived and she was taken to the general hospital.
She seemed conscious, but could not be induced to talk. The only article she carried was a Sunday school quarterly bearing the name of Loretta Kurster, 1509 East Eighteenth street.
Drs. R. C. Henderson and T. B. Clayton, who operated on the woman at the hospital. said she seemed bright and could use her vocal organs, but evidently was suffering from a skull fracture so such an extent that she did not really understand what was said to her.
Asked if she knew how she had been hurt, she replied, wonderingly, "Hurt? Why, I didn't know anything was the matter." But questions as to her identity she did not attempt to answer, and there was nothing about her person to disclose this, besides the booklet.
In the meantime it had been discovered that Loretta Kursler is a 12-year-old girl who was uninjured and busy in her mother's bakery at the address given in the book. She thought it might be a Sunday school teacher she had met at Central Baptist church, Miss Blanche Wade, but Miss Wade was found safe at her home. She at once, however, went to the hospital to see if she could identify the woman. The quarterly was found to be one pushed by the Christian denomination.
The Kursler child having recently become a pupil at the Forest Avenue Christian church, Miss Wade called Rev. J. L. Thompson of the Forest Avenue church for aid in identifying the woman. Loretta Kursler said her Christian Sunday school teacher was called Grace, but she did not know her last name. The minister accounted for every Sunday school worker by the name of Grace and everyone who teaches girls of that size. Then the chance of discovering before morning who the woman was seemed very slight.
Apparently the woman was 32 to 35 years of age. She was slightly above medium height, was fairly well fleshed, was brunette with abundance of dark hair, had delicate hands, blue-set earrings worn tight to the ear, and wore a tan jacket and a fur neck piece. No hat was taken with her to the hospital. Around her waist was fastened a package containing $8.70.
Dr. Ruhl, who first saw her, thinks it possible that the woman may have been demented, or if an employed woman may have been making a short cut home from work. In the latter case he would believe her hearing defective.
The Kursler family is at a loss to know how a Sunday school book bearing the little girl's name would come to be found in the possession of anyone not her teacher.Labels: accident, Belt line, Brooklyn avenue, children, churches, death, doctors, Eighteenth street, Forest avenue, general hospital, ministers, No 4 police station, Park avenue, railroad, women March 28, 1908 MOTORMAN KILLED IN WRECK.
Rex Hawkins Loses Control of His Car, Which Strikes Another.
Rex Hawkins, the motorman on southbound Indiana car No. 643, was killed in a collision which occurred between Thirtieth and Thirty-first street on Indiana avenue at 11:15 o'clock last night. Hawkins lost control of his car as it was descending the hill toward the end of the line and the switchback at Thirty-first street. Indiana car No. 636, which was standing on the east track at the terminus, was telescoped and completely demolished by the southbound car when it jumped the track.
Hawkins was caught in the vestibule of his car, his left leg broken and his body crushed. He was extricated from the wreck and carried into McCann & Bartell's drug store at Thirty-first and Indiana. Dr. H. A. Breyfogle attended the injured motorman, who died a few minutes after being carried into the drug store. Hawkins lived at 2424 Tracy avenue. Isaac Pate and William Lamar, the trainmen on the car that was telescoped, were bruised and shaken up but sustained no dangerous injuries. E. J. Hanson, the conductor on the runaway car, was uninjured. Hawkins's body was taken to Eylar Brothers' undertaking rooms.Labels: accident, doctors, druggists, Indiana avenue, streetcar, Thirtieth street, Thirty-first street, Tracy avenue, undertakers March 18, 1908 MOURNER BREAKS NECK.
Robert W. Smyth Meets Death While Returning From Wake.
Robert W. Smyth of 208 South Fourteenth street, Kansas City, Kas., brother of City License Inspector J. E. Smyth fell and broke his neck last night shortly before 10 o'clock while walking along South Eighteenth street. He had attended the wake of a friend in that neighborhood, and was on his way home when he met death.
The place where Mr. Smyth fell and received fatal injuries was within about twenty feet of where Isaac Malott, the Grandview grocer, was murdered by robbers about five months ago. He had been drinking, according to the statements of several persons who had been with him just a short time before he left for home. Dr. John A. Mitchell, who lives at 1803 Central avenue, only a short distance form where the accident occurred, was one of the first person s to reach the body. When he arrived Smyth was dying. Dr. Mitchell stated last night that there was no doubt that the man's neck was broken in the fall. Coroner Davis will hold a n autopsy this morning at Butler's undertaking rooms, where the body was removed.
Friends of Smyth believe that he was assaulted by highwaymen. There is a great gash on the dead man's forehead, and those who examined the ground where the body was found declare there are evidences of a struggle.Labels: accident, Central avenue, death, doctors, Grandview, grocers, Kansas City Kas March 15, 1908 CAR CRUSHED OFF CHILD'S ARM.
Three-Year-Old Was Wandering in the Streets Alone.
Louis Wagner, 3 years old, 562 Charlotte street, fell under an eastbound Northeast car at Independence avenue and Charlotte street about noon yesterday and suffered the loss of his right arm near the elbow. The child was taken to emergency hospital.
Motorman J. J. Howe and Conductor John Gordon were arrested by Patrolman Lorraine Mastin and taken to police headquarters. Captain Whitsett booked them for investigation, but the men were later released to appear before the prosecutor when wanted.
Witnesses said that the little 3-year-old was running across the street with the unsteady step of a toddler. As he gained the center of the tracks he looked back. Just at that moment the car came. The child fell under the front trucks.
The mother of the injured boy said that he left home in search of his brother, Ezra, 7 years old. She said that her children often went out alone. The father of the boy, Joseph Wagner, is an itinerant locksmith.Labels: accident, Charlotte street, children, emergency hospital, Independence avenue, streetcar March 1, 1908 MET THE DEATH HE HAD FEARED.
WILLIAM BRENNAN IS CRUSHED BETWEEN STREET CARS.
YEARS WITH THE METROPOLITAN.
WAS SUPERINTENDENT OF FIF- TEENTH STREET LINE.
Caught Between Two Cars at Fif- teenth and Prospect While Mak- ing a Coupling -- Death Quickly Results. 
WILLIAM BRENNAN.
Meeting the death which he daily feared during the twenty years of service for the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, William Brennan, division superintendent for the Fifteenth street line, was crushed to death between two cars at Fifteenth street and Prospect avenue about 7 o'clock last night, while making a coupling.
After the rush hour the trailers are taken from the cars at Fifteenth street and Prospect avenue, and in strings of two or three are hauled to the barn by a work bar. One trailer had already been coupled to the work car by Brennan and a negro assistant and Brennan was stooping over working with the rear coupler when the second trailer struck him. His breast bone was crushed and he lived only about fifteen minutes after the accident.
It was no part of Brennan's regular duties to assist in coupling the trailers to the work car, the negro who was helping him being employed for that purpose. But in order to keep the lines in his division clear, he frequently took charge of the work in order to hurry it and get the trailers out of the way as quickly as possible.
The cars with which Brennan was working were empty, and there was no one to warn him of the danger, the negro being on the rear end of the second trailer and not seeing Brennan's plight in time to cry out.
It was said last night at Brennan's home, 3815 Dixon avenue, that ever since he began work for the Metropolitan Street Railway Company twenty years ago as a gripman he had feared that he would meet his death in a street car accident.
"He aways said that he was going to die while at work, and I have been afraid for him every day while he has been on duty," said the widow, Mrs. Mary Brennan, last night. But when he was promoted to be assistant division superintendent and didn't have to be on the cars all the time I hoped that the danger was over."
Mr. Brennan had been division superintendent for four years, and was known as one of the hardest working men in the street railway company's employ. He was 50 years old, and leaves a widow and three children, May, Queen, and Harvey. The coroner took charge of the body, and ordered it taken to O'Donnell's undertaking rooms.Labels: accident, death, Fifteenth street, Metropolitan Street Railway Company, Prospect avenue, streetcar, undertakers February 12, 1908 CARS COLLIDE ON PROSPECT.
Two Motormen Are Injured in Early Morning Accident.
Car 158 on the Prospect line dashed into the car ahead of it at Thirty-third street and Prospect avenue last night just after 1 o'clock. Something was wrong with the motor of the fist car and the trolley was off while repairs were being made. Both cars were headed south on a down grade.
The rear car was not seen in time to be flagged, and in spite of every effort of the rear motorman, James Turney, to stop his car, there was a crash that entirely demolished the front vestibule of the car, knocking out both front and rear motors and breaking one of Turner's ankles.
On the front car the rear vestibule was crushed in and W. C. Forest, the motorman, suffered a broken thumb.
Both men had their injuries attended by Dr. A. W. Davis at his home, 3306 Prospect. |
