Grayson County TXGenWeb

Missouri ~ Pacific Railroad

The Gazette
(Fort Worth)
June 13, 1886

DENISON
In Getting Out of the Way of One Train a Man Is Run Down and Killed by Another
Special to the Gazette
Denison, Tex., June 12 - This morning about 9 o'clock a young man apparently twenty-three or four years old, was run over and killed by a coal car, in the Missouri-Pacific railroad yard here. Squire A.G. Moseley, justice of the peace, being notified immediately impaneled a jury of inquest and took the following testimony:
H.H. Drum: I am a resident of Fort Worth, Tex.; am a switchman, but at present am not employed. I was going to the round-house this morning about an hour ago. I saw deceased standing by the coal shute as I came back; he was walking down the Missouri Pacific railroad track toward the round-house; the Houston & Texas Central passenger engine No. 5 was coming down the track and deceased stepped out of the way; he stepped on the track where switch engine No. 50 was shoving some cars; the switch engine was moving south; I stepped between the two tracks and called to him but he did not notice me; the coal cars struck him; the switchman was standing on the front end, but it was to late for them to stop. He was struck on the back and died almost immediately. This happened in Grayson County, Texas, on the 12th day of June, A.D. 1886. I found letter and memoranda book in his pocket. Letter was addressed to J.C. White, Kentuckytown, Tex., and was postmarked Woodburn, Ky.
V.A. Jackson was then called, and testified in substance the same as Mr. Drum, only Mr. Jackson says he was riding on the front end of the car that struck deceased and had called to him to get out of the way, but he seemed either to not hear him or hearing did not heed. Mr. Jackson then gave the signal to stop when within a car and a half lengths of him. It is thought that the deceased's name was J.C. White.
The case was at this point submitted to the jury, who rendered a verdict in accordance with the evidence. The unfortunate victim was literally dismembered, and was truly a terrible sight to behold. The body was taken in charge by the undertakers, who will prepare it for burial. Telegrams have been sent to Kentuckytown and Whitewright asking for information concerning the deceased.

AN ACCIDENT
Engineer Daniel Durkee, who runs the stationary engine at the Missouri Pacific railroad shops, met with a very painful accident this morning. He put a coil of heavy wire on a bench and unrolled a few feet of it, and the proceeded with a cold chisel to cut off a piece, when it recoiled with great force, striking him in the temple, making a very deep gash which bled profusely. Dr. A.W. Acheson, the coronary's physician, very promptly stopped the flow of blood, and skillfully dressed the wound. Mr. Durkee is now doing very well.