The Dallas Morning News
February 14, 1893

KILLED BY A TRAIN
Details of the Death of John Carlat at Denison.

Denison, Texas, Feb. 13 - John Carlat was killed at a Munson street crossing this morning by the incoming News train.  Mr. Carlat was driving a bread delivery wagon, and was going east when the accident occurred.  W.W. Price, car inspector for the Central, was the only person who saw the accident.  He lives in south Denison and was en route north to the yard to begin work.  On arriving at the Munson street crossing he stopped to see if the train was coming.  He heard the whistle at the Hull street crossing and then the ringing bell.  Price expected to walk down the track following the train, and he stepped up on a stick of timber for the train to pass.  Looking up the street he saw the wagon coming only a few yards away.  He turned to see the engine.  It was coming down the track through the cut.  He threw up his arms as a signal for the wagon to stop, but the driver did not see him.  Carlat slapped the horses with the lines and said "git up," and the crash came.  The horses had cleared the track and the pilot of the engine struck the wagon between the wheels.  The harness gave way and the team was uninjured.  The train was making high speed and the wagon was carried in front of the engine, resting on the pilot a distance of 280 yards.  When the train was brought to a stop, the wagon rolled down the embankment.  Carlat's body was found on the west side of the track about 150 yards from the crossing.  Death was instantaneous, as the skull was mashed into fragments.  The train was backed up to the crossing.  The body was picked up and brought to the union depot where it was delivered to the undertaker.  Mr. Carlat has a wife, but no children. He has lived in Denison since childhood and was known to everybody.  The place where the accident occurred is one of the most dangerous in or around the city.  The railway track is in a cut ten or twelve feet deep and the grade on both roads is very heavy.  Engineer Shaw, who was pulling the train, shut off steam when he entered the city and had applied air about 100 feet before he struck the wagon.  The team came on to the track from the west, he was on the east side of his engine and did not see the team until the pilot of his engine was in the act of striking the wagon.  The running time of the train from Sherman to Denison, a distance of about ten miles, is only twelve minutes.

 
Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, February 19, 1893

Wednesday, February 15
Mr. W.A. Hallenbeck closed his place of business yesterday in respect to the memory of Mr. John Carlat, his brother-in-law, who was killed by the cars Monday morning at the Munson street crossing

HIS LAST RIDE
John V. Carlat Killed by the Cannon Ball at the Munson Street Crossing
Monday morning about 6:30 o’clock the cannon ball train, Dallas News Special, ran into W.A Hallenbeck’s bread delivery wagon at the Munson street crossing in the Fourth ward and instant killed Mr. John V. Carlat, the deliveryman.  The train was pulled by engine 17 with Shaw in the cab and Mr. Carlat was driving down the hill on Munson street going east.  He had finished his delivery on the west side and was en route to customers on South Austin, Houston and Travis avenues.  The railroad passes through a cut some eight or ten feet deep just before it reaches Munson street and to a person going east on that street it is impossible to see a train coming from the south until within a very few yards of the crossing.  Mr. W.M. Price, who was probably the only eye-witness to the horrible affair, makes the following statement:
“I am employed as car inspector in the Central yards in Denison.  I live in the southern part of the city, and Monday morning about 6:30  o’clock, and while en route to my work, I heard Shaw whistle for town.  I usually get on the track at the Munson street crossing and walk down to the yards.  If the News train is close at hand, I wait at the crossing until it passes, as I do not care to go down and up the high dump.  Monday morning I saw the train coming over the top of the hill.  The fireman was ringing the bell.  I frequently meet the bread wagon in that locality and looking up I saw it coming down the hill, the team being in a trot.  I looked to see how far away the train was and I knew instantly that there would be a smashup if the wagon did not stop.  I threw up my arms as a signal for the driver to stop.  I was on his north side, however,  and the train was coming from the south, and I am confident he did not see me.  The team then was in a lope; the driver slapped them with the lines and said “Get up!”  The pilot of the engine struck the wagon between the wheels, and the whole thing transpired almost within the twinkle of an eye.  I did not speak for I could not do so.  As the engine dashed by I saw the wagon lodge up in front over the pilot.  It was too dark to see plainly just what was taking place.  I ran on down the track, not knowing who was in the wagon.  About half way between Munson and Day streets I found the body lying on the west side and near the track.  I called but no answer came.  I knelt down over the form and saw that it was that of Johnnie (at that time I did not know his full name) and that he was dead.  His right arm appeared to be broken, and one of his legs was under his body.  In a few minutes a number of shop men, who were on their way to work, came up.  We straightened out his limbs, and by that time Engineer Shaw and the train’s crew had arrived.  The train had been stopped down about the viaduct and backed up to that point.”
The body was placed in a car and carried to the depot, where it was given to Undertaker Lindsey for preparation for burial.
The funeral was conducted from the family residence, 908 West Sears street, Tuesday evening at 2:30 o’clock.  Services were held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the body was interred in Calvary cemetery.
Mr. Carlat was known to nearly every man, woman and child in the city and was respected and esteemed by all.  In 1887 he was married to Miss Ida Hutton, and since that time he and his wife have resided at the family homestead, 908 West Sears.  They have no children. 
Mr. Carlat is a brother to Mrs. Hallenbeck.  Mr. Carlat was in his 29^th year.

TO MY CUSTOMER
By the death of Mr. Carlat, I am unable to serve my customers who have heretofore been served by the delivery wagon.  He had entire charge of the part of the business and I am unable to find the route book.  I cannot tell who my customers are.  If they will kindly inform me of their wants they will receive prompt attention.  In the meantime, my bread can be found at nearly all of the grocery stores where my tickets will be accepted.  Please notify me as promptly as possible that I may be able to establish the route again.
Very Respectfully,
W.A. Hallenbeck


The Galveston Daily News
Monday, February 20, 1893
pg. 6

AT THE POINT OF DEATH

Mrs. Ida V. Carlat, wife of John Carlat, who was run over and killed by the cars a few days since, is at the home of her parents, No. 902 West Woodard street, lying at the point of death.  She has been unconscious since the death of her husband.