HUGHES, Leander “Lee”

––––––––

A FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.

––––––––

One of Franklin’s Bright Young Boys
Meets Sudden Death.

––––––––

One of the most dreadful accidents ever recorded in Franklin occurred Tuesday at the J. M. & I. station, when the train north due at 10:50 a.m. ar­rived.

Lee Hughes, the fourteen year old son of Frank B. Hughes, in attempting to cross the track in front of the engine as the train pulled in, was struck and killed. The boy was working at Zink’s blacksmith shop and had been sent on his bicycle to mail a postal card. Ar­riving at the crossing he set his wheel against a telephone pole just west of the track. The train was approaching, and the boy started to run to the platform taking a diagonal course. When he stepped across the first rail he was just opposite the agent’s office. The pilot hit him, but instead of knocking him off the track, he fell backward onto the pilot and then off in front of the engine. He was dragged along, his lower limbs and body being terribly crushed and mangled. When the train was brought to a standstill, one of the large wheels of the locomotive was resting on his leg. He was removed as soon as possible and the road’s surgeon, Dr. Carl Payne, summoned. But the first glance of the physician showed him that the boy had no chance to live. He was still breath­ing, but unconscious. At 10 minutes be­fore one o’clock he ceased to breathe.

The boy was bright, active and in­dustrious. In school he was studious and spare moments were improved by reading or some employment. For three years during vacation he had found employment at James Sloan’s black­smith shop and nowhere could be found a boy who seemed more ambitious to do something or be engaged in useful employment. He was a most promising lad in every way and so looked upon by all who knew him.

The engineer was wholly blameless. He could in no wise have avoided the accident. It all occurred in a moment and was one without any warning whatever. Several persons [hollered] to the boy to stop but it was supposed the noise of the train prevented his hearing their warning.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at four o’clock from the resi­dence in North Franklin, conducted by Rev. C. R. Hudson.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, August 4, 1899,
Volume XL Number 4, page 2 column 2

==============================

CORONER’S VERDICT

––––––––

I, the undersigned Coroner of Johnson County, State of Indiana, hereby certify that I held an inquest on the body of Lee Hughes, late of said county and state, found dead in Franklin, Indiana, on the 18th day of July 1899.

After due investigation I find the de­ceased came to his death by reason of being struck by locomotive engine of train No. 19, J. M. & I. division P. C. C. & St. L. R. R., about 11 o’clock, a.m. on above named date.

Deceased was thirteen years old and weighed one hundred pounds.

R. W. TERHUNE,   
Coroner. 

Link to Lee Hughes’ grave

Notes: The Johnson County Indiana WPA Birth Index, 1882–1920, book CH-1, page 58 records a white male born to Frank Hughes and Alice Boles 26 Oct 1885.

The Johnson County Indiana WPA Death Index, 1882–1920, page 99, referencing Book H-18, page 18, records that Lee Hughes, a thirteen-year-old white male, died 18 Jul 1899 in Franklin.

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry