USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical sketches and reminiscences of Madison county, Indiana : a detailed history of the early events of the pioneer settlement of the county, and many of the happenings of recent years, as well as a complete history of each township, to which is added numerous incidents of a pleasant nature, in the way of reminiscences, and laughable occurrences > Part 4
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A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
John R. Reed, an employe in Ralya's heading factory, which was once situated near the crossing of the Pan Handle and Big Four Railroads, in Anderson, met with a horrible death on Thursday, the 23d of November, 1882, while running a cut- off saw in that establishment. One of the belts which ran the
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saw slipped off the pulley, and Mr. Reed attempted to put it on, when it began to coil about his head, causing him to step backward to get out of its way. The saw was about ten feet distant from where he was attempting to replace the belt. In stepping backward he stumbled over a pile of rubbish which had accumulated there and fell against the saw with his arm, which was severed from the body. He was also drawn over the saw, cutting him in several places, running diagonally from under the right shoulder through his breast, and also nearly severing his head from his body. He was thrown into the air above the saw and came down upon it again, cutting another terrible gash through his body, just below the pit of the stomach. He was left almost nude, and presented a ghastly spectacle as he lay on the ground, mangled and bleeding.
Mr. Reed was about thirty-five years old. He left a wife and three children to mourn his loss. He had removed from Frankton to Anderson but a short time before the accident occurred.
BURNED TO DEATII.
On the night of the 4th of June, 1890, the stable owned by Patrick Croke, near the Big Four railroad, in the neigh- borhood of the crossing of Meridian street, was discovered to be on fire. The department was called out, but too late to save the building from the flames.
During the progress of the fire it was discovered that Daniel C. Croke, a boy about ten years of age, a son of l'at- rick Croke, the owner of the stable, was in the building and his body was burned to a crisp before he could be removed.
Thomas and Patrick Croke were brothers, and at that time were dealers in "junk " and used the stable as a warehouse. The boy and his parents did not live agreeably together, and he was sleeping in the stable. How the fire originated is not known, but by some it was supposed to be spontaneous com- bustion from old rags piled up in the building. Coroner Armington held the inquest.
KILLED BY FALLING FROM A TREE.
On the 31st of October, 1890, Andrew J. Gustin, an old · man of the age of 67 years, fell from a tree at the residence of George Kline at the corner of Meridian and Fifth streets, in Anderson, and was instantly killed. IIe and his son-in-law,
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a Mr. Wigner, were pruning trees for Mr. Kline. The old man had gone up into the tree-top to cut out the limbs while Wig- ner stood below to carry them away. Mr. Gustin missed his footing and fell to the ground, breaking his neck. Ile died almost instantly. Coroner Armington was called, and held an inquest merely as a matter of form and the old gentleman was taken to his home where kind hands laid beautiful flowers on his bier. Mr. Gustin was a man well liked by all who knew him, and was honest in his dealings with his fellow-man.
KILLED BY AN ENGINE.
On the morning of March 24, 1891, Lizzie Bond, a young lady twenty years of age, who was employed by The J. W. Sefton Company at the " Butter-dish" factory, was on her way to her day's labor with her dinner pail on her arm, as merry as the lark in the field, when, without a moment's warn- ing, she was ushered into eternity, by being run over by an engine on the Michigan division of the Big Four railway, at the crossing of Twelfth street. Her remains were imme- diately removed to an adjoining house, and Coroner Arming- ton called and an inquest held, after which she was removed to the home of her parents. She was a bright young lady, well respected by her co-laborers, as well as a large circle of friends. ller parents were poor and her sad death overcame them. The place where this event transpired is a veritable death trap, and it is only a wonder that more fatalities have not taken place there.
HORRIBLE DEATH OF J. E. HIGGINS.
A most horrible occurrence took place in Anderson on the night of September 23rd, 1893, in which J. E. Higgins was burned to death. He was a roomer in the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth Pratt on West Eighth street, while his wife was away visiting friends. In some manner the house caught fire in the room where he was sleeping, and was destroyed,; burning Mr. Higgins into a crisp. It is supposed he was reading by a light and perhaps had been smoking and had fallen asleep and the bed clothing took fire.
Mr. Higgins was a man of excellent habits, a salesman in the Lion Store, and well liked by all who knew him.
Mrs. Pratt, who owned the property, was the widow of the late Asa Pratt, Esq. The property was fully insured. . 35
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A FATAL RIDE.
Sherman Eastman was one of the young business men of Anderson, who came here after the finding of natural gas, and was employed as bookkeeper by the Indiana Box Company. He was popular with his employers as well as the general public. He was the son of II. O. Eastman, who was for many years road-master of the " Bee Line" railroad system, and a brother to Charles and Ruby Eastman of the Anderson Glass Company. He came to Anderson from Union City, his native town, having been born there, and where his parents yet reside.
On the evening of December 28, 1895, as he was coming from North Anderson, his home, to do some shopping for the family, as he reached the east side of the public square, he at- tempted to alight from the car without stopping it. It was on a very sleety night, and in dismounting his feet went from under him, and he fell backward under the rear car that was used as a " trailer," and had his head nearly severed from his body by the car passing over him.
His body was taken into the drug store of Cassel Bros. on the east side and medical aid summoned, but life was ex- tinct before the physician arrived.
His brothers and his family were notified and his remains were taken to his home and afterwards to Union City for interment.
Mr. Eastman left a young wife and a small family to mourn his untimely death, besides several brothers and rela- tives who were much attached to him. During his stay in Anderson he was highly esteemed by the business men, among whom his acquaintance mostly consisted, as he was unpreten- tious and made no effort to be prominent in society, choosing rather to attend strictly to business and spend his leisure moments with his family. The young business men of Ander- son missed him greatly and felt the loss quite severely.
BOY DROWNED IN A CISTERN.
A distressing accident occurred in the family of George Hlouk on the 19th of November, 1888, by which a son, a boy of four years of age, was drowned in a cistern. Mr. Houk lived on what has for many years been known as the Gunder farm, north-east of Anderson, on the Chesterfield road, near the residence of James Larrimore, where the accident occurred.
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There was no covering over the cistern, but a few loose boards lay near its mouth. The supposition was that the little boy had been playing around in proximity to the cistern, and had fallen in by stepping on a loose board. His mother soon missed him and after searching the premises went to the cistern. She saw that the boards had been removed, and on looking down was horrified to behold the body of her little son floating in the water. Ile was at once removed, but life was extinct. Ilis remains were interred in the Anderson cemetery on the following Tuesday. Ile was a very bright boy, and the sudden and tragic death caused a gloom in the homes of the surrounding neighbors and friends.
A BOY DROWNED.
On the 21st of June, 1881, James Finan, a little lad of seven or eight years of age, met his death by being drowned in the fatal swimming hole near the Pan Handle railroad bridge near Anderson. He was in company with William and Peter Kellar, sons of Phillip Kellar, who at that time kept a restaurant on south Main street. They were boys about Finan's age or perhaps a little older. This was at that time a favorite spot for the boys to congregate and swim ; although many accidents had happened there, it did not seem to deter the lads from risking their lives in this fatal place. The boy . jumped from the bridge and dived into the deep water below, and did not again appear. This soon alarmed his companions and little "Pete" Kellar, at the risk of his own life, plunged into the river to rescue his little friend, while William ran down the bank of the stream, screaming for help. This at- tracted the attention of Daniel Knotts and James Hanson, who were gunning along the river near by. They has- tened to the scene, but too late to render any assistance, as young Finnan was dead before they reached the place. Little "Pete," hero that he was, did more than many men of ma- ture years would have done. He grappled Finan and came very nearly getting him out, but had not sufficient strength to take him ashore. Every one of Anderson's older citizens re- members "Pete" Kellar. Although his surroundings were not the best, he was in all a manly little boy, and never knew what the word fear meant. He was as brave as a lion and would face death for a friend in time of peril. This was a heart-rending affair for the parents of young Finan, who yet live in Anderson, and mourn the loss of their little one. The
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Kellars live in Chicago, and little "Pete" is now a man and is said to be a useful and respected citizen. Thomas Finan, the father of the unfortunate boy, has for a long while been em- ployed by the American Wire Nail Company.
A TERRIBLE DEAT11.
For many years after the building of the Pan Handle railway through the city of Anderson, there was a large strip of vacant ground lying directly west of the railroad and south of Tenth street, a portion of which had formerly been used as a Catholic burying ground. In making the heavy fill for the railroad bed it was necessary to take out a large amount of gravel and earth from along this strip of ground. The Cath- olics in the meantime removed their cemetery to the present site south of the city. The locality above spoken of was for many years inhabited by a class of people who did not own real estate but had merely " squatted " there and built their little shanties and small frame houses in which they lived, being tolerated by the indulgence of the railroad company and others who owned the property in that vicinity. It was known as "Happy Hollow," and by some people it was called " No Man's Land," because no person living there had any title to the real estate. Among others who dwelt in that neighborhood was an old lady of the name of Johanna O'Con- nor, a widow who had living with her a deaf and dumb sister . and a small girl of the name of Hannah Dunn, who helped about the household work and did little chores for Mrs. O'Connor.
On the 3d of August, 1877, little Hannah was ordered by Mrs. O'Connor to light the fire for the purpose of preparing a meal. The child at once obeyed and hastened to the stove, and in making preparations to light the fire, picked up a two- gallon can of coal oil and began pouring it upon the wood in the stove, until she had emptied nearly half of the can. It seems that there were slumbering in the bottom of the stove some burning embers. When the coal oil came in contact with this it at once ignited and communicated with the can in her hand which exploded. The flames blazed furiously up into her face setting fire to her clothing, and in almost an instant she was burned to a crisp. It was with great effort that Mrs. O'Connor saved her house from being destroyed, but nothing could be done to rescue the little child. She screamed loudly and made a great struggle to save herself, but
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with no avail. Her screams could be heard for squares around. It was a most horrible sight to see her little body reduced to ashes. She was an orphan and for this reason the instance was regarded as' more pitiable. ller remains were taken in charge by the neighbors and interred in the Catholic cemetery south of the city.
KILLING OF MARTIN ROGERS.
On Thursday, the 16th of March, 1876, as the gravel train on the Anderson, Lebanon & St. Louis Railroad, now known as the Midland, was going to unload some gravel in ballasting the roadway, an accident occurred just east of the crossing which resulted in the death of Martin Rogers, one of the laborers on the road. Rogers was sitting on the side of a flat car, his legs hanging over the edge. As the train neared the fence, which was built up close to the side of the track, there was not sufficient space between the ends of the rails and the side of the car to permit his legs to pass in safety. Rogers attempted to hold them up above the fence until the car passed by, but as he did not raise them sufficiently high his feet were caught in the rails and he was dragged off. In falling he was thrown under the wheels and his arm and side horribly mangled. His head was severely cut and bruised ; besides, he received internal injuries.
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The train was stopped and the unfortunate man taken up and brought back to his boarding-house, where he lay in great suffering until two o'clock the next morning, when death came to his relief. He was attended in his last moments by Rev. Father Crawley.
Rogers came to Anderson from Peoria, Illinois. He was a single man and had a brother living in New York. He had no friends in this part of the country and was employed by Burnett Brothers, railroad contractors, who did everything in their power to alleviate his sufferings, and when Death had taken his victim they also met the funeral expenses, for which kindly act they won the plaudits of the public.
This was the first fatal accident that happened on this railroad.
DROWNING OF JOIIN CRAWLEY.
John Crawley, who was a son of Michael Crawley, brother of the Rev. Father J. B. Crawley, for many years pastor of the Catholic church of Anderson, was drowned
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while bathing in White river, near the Pan Handle railroad bridge, on the 25th of July, 1883. He had gone to the place with John Lavery and Eugene Metcalf for the purpose of enjoying a swim, this being a favorite place of resort for the Anderson youth. The lad got beyond his depth, and is supposed to have been seized with cramps, and being unable to extricate himself, gave the alarm to his companions, who did all in their power to rescue him but without success. A large crowd soon gathered upon the bank, having been at- tracted by the cries of the boys who were in company with the unfortunate young man. A search was immediately com- menced for the recovery of the body when, it was rescued by Robert Striker, near the spot where it had gone down, having been in the water nearly an hour.
The young lad was about fifteen years of age. An inquest was held by the Coroner, William A. Hunt, and a verdict of accidental drowning was rendered.
Young Crawley had for several years made his home with his uncle, Father Crawley, who was very much attached to him, and was deeply affected by his sad ending. It had been Father Crawley's intention to send his nephew to St. Mary's college, Kansas, and give him a good education.
The funeral services took place from St. Mary's church, after which the remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery.
KILLING OF SIMEON GOODING.
During the fair held at Anderson in 1874, on Friday, the last day of the exhibition, Simeon Gooding and wife and two grand-children were returning home when they met with an accident which was the cause of Mr. Gooding losing his life.
They were driving a span of small mules attached to a common road wagon. After crossing Whitinger's ford on White river, and while they were in the act of ascending a steep hill at that point, the team, from exhaustion, came to a stand-still, and the wagon started backwards and was over- turned in a ravine by the side of the road.
Gooding jumped clear of the wagon and fell heavily in the road. Mrs. Gooding threw one of the children out, and, with the other in her arms, jumped, and as the wagon turned over it fell heavily upon them.
Mr. Gooding was resuscitated after considerable effort, and with the help of friends, who soon arrived, he was re- moved to a house in the neighborhood, where he died before
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medical aid could be procured. Ile was about forty-eight years of age, and well known in the township where he resided.
SUDDEN DEATH OF W. H. FERGUSON.
During the summer of 1890 William H. Ferguson was a familiar character in Anderson and the vicinity, by reason of his having a contract and of superintending the work of con- structing the extension of the C. W. & M. Railway to Rush- ville. He was a boarder at the Griffith House, where he met his death, and was well liked by all those who made his ac- quaintance. He was seemingly in the best of health until a few moments before his taking off, which occurred about 10 o'clock on the 5th of September, at which time he was stricken with apoplexy. The only indication of illness that he gave out was that he complained to his bookkeeper, a Mr. McGinty, of feeling a depression about his heart. Ile passed Mr. McGinty's room and laid down upon a bed and then re- quested that a physician be summoned. Dr. M. V. Hunt re- sponded, but on entering the room he found Ferguson in the throes of death and past all medical aid. Ferguson's brother and wife were at Evansville at the time, where they lived, and were notified of his death. On their arrival the remains were taken to his home for interment. He was a man about forty years of age, and left an interesting family to mourn his loss.
A HORRIBLE BOILER EXPLOSION.
At about the hour of nine o'clock on the morning of Oc- tober 19, 1889, when the busy wheels of industry had just begun to move in the many factories of Anderson, a terrific sound broke out on the balmy atmosphere, as if the whole city had been blown up by some awful explosive. People ran out of their houses to see, if possible, what had happened. It was but a short time until word was received at fire head- quarters, that R. J. Walton & Co's. saw mills had exploded their boilers, and that several men had been killed, Terrible excitement prevailed in all parts of the city. From nearly every quarter of the city, men were employed in the mill. Men, women and children, hurried to the scene to see if some loved one had been killed or wounded. When the dust and smoke had sufficiently cleared away a rescuing party com- menced the task of removing the dead and wounded. It was soon ascertained that Ilorace Kuhns, an employe, was
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killed, having his skull crushed by falling timber; Walter Mingle, the swayer, was horribly hurt, having his skull frac- tured ; Allen Stanley, a bystander, was slightly injured ; William Rumler, of Ovid, a customer of the mill, was in- jured about the head and shoulders; Samuel Cooke, an em- ploye was hurt somewhat, and several others about the mill received more or less shaking up. Mr. R. J. Walton, one of the proprietors, was standing just outside of the mill talking to a customer when the explosion took place ; the flying tim- bers and a part of the boiler went over his head, and his escape was certainly providential. William Stanley, the engineer, was standing inside the mill near the boilers when they went out, and how he escaped from being instantly killed is unexplainable. As it was, Stanley was only slightly shocked, and received no serious wounds. The mill was a complete wreck. It was simply wiped from the face of the earth, with hardly a thing left to tell where it stood. The cause of the explosion has always been a mystery to those who were in charge of it, as the engineer is certain that he had plenty of water in the boilers. IIe was a sober, compe- tent man, and had run the engine steadily for six years prior to the accident, and was noted for never being absent from his post of duty. The mill was the property of Robert J. Walton and John L. Forkner, doing business under the name of R. J. Walton & Co. The loss was complete as they had no insurance against explosions.
This was one of the most horrible explosions that ever occurred in Anderson. The boiler was thrown two hundred yards from the mill, and the frame work was scattered in all directions. The mill was immediately rebuilt and was opera- ted on the spot of the fatal accident until it was sold to T. J. Riggs & Co., and removed to Logansport, Indiana.
Kuhns, who was killed, was a married man about twen- ty-five years of age, and left a widow and one child.
THE SAD DEATII OF J. E. D. SMITHI.
James E. D. Smith, who was for many years a resident of Madison county, met an untimely death near the village of Hamilton, in Jackson township, on the 14th of October, 1864. He was engaged in hauling logs to the sawmill at Anderson, and while loading one on a wagon the ropes in some manner slipped or gave way, and the log rolled back, catching him beneath it and instantly killing him.
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He was a worthy citizen of Anderson, and was at one time the partner of his brother-in-law, Mr. Nathan Armstrong, in contracting. Ilis widow is yet living in Anderson, with her daughter, Mrs. R. P. Grimes.
Mrs. Smith, the widow of the deceased, was the daughter of the late Benj. Walker, a prominent and old-time resident of Madison county, who for many years prior to his removal to Anderson, resided in Richland township.
The death of Mr. Smith caused unusual regret in Ander- son and wherever he was known.
He built the palatial home now occupied by the Hon. John H. Terhune, on West Eighth street, where he resided with his interesting family at the time of his death.
KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
On the morning of June 19, 1868, Pryor Shaul, a young un- married man who lived with his mother on the farm now owned by the Mcculloughs, about three miles southwest of Ander- son, was going into the field to plow corn, riding a horse with harness on. It was almost a cloudless day ; the sun was shin- ing brightly, and he was thinking, no doubt, of anything else but being suddenly called to his account, when in the twink- ling of an eye a sudden flash of lightning knocked him and his horse to the ground, killing them both instantly.
The occurrence caused great commotion in the surround- ing neighborhood, and was considered a strange freak of na- ture, from the fact that it was on a clear day, and no report was heard of the explosion for any distance around. Hlad the horse not been killed it would have been thought that young Shaul had come to his death from some other cause.
It happened in a field in the neighborhood of the large brick house standing on the Mccullough farm, near the Big Four railroad, and was pointed out for many years as the fatal spot where Mr. Shaul so suddenly lost his life.
KILLING OF JOIIN WALLACE.
A most distressing accident occurred on the farm of J. HI. Stanley on the 9th of July, in the year 1865, whereby John Wallace, an Anderson boy about seventeen years of age, was killed by the accidental discharge of a shotgun in the hands of Patrick McGraw, an engineer on the Bee Line railroad. Young Wallace was in company with McGraw and Thomas McGord, a fireman on the same road, hunting. When on the
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farm of J. H. Stanley, near the river, the party scared up a muskrat, and, in attempting to get a shot at it, McGraw hav- ing his gun in a horizontal position, with the muzzle in front of him, it was discharged prematurely, the contents taking effect in Wallace's back, killing him instantly. The gun lock caught on a grapevine, and both barrels were discharged simul- taneously, with the above result.
Young Wallace was a brother of Morris and Richard Wal- lace, who yet live in Anderson, and was a young man well re- spected. The affair caused much grief among the friends, and regret of those connected with the accident.
McGraw was the man who headed the Fenians who left Anderson in the spring of 1866 to invade Canada, and was their captain.
SUDDEN DEATHI OF LIMON M. COX.
Limon M. Cox, a prominent citizen of Anderson, died suddenly at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago on the 24th of July, 1895. IIe had left Anderson at noon the day before his death, going to Chicago for the purpose of buying clothing to replenish his stock. On his arrival in that city he called upon his friend, Mr. Don Carlin, of whom he was in the habit of purchasing goods. After chatting with Carlin a few mo- ments, Mr. Cox complained of feeling sick. Mr. Carlin in- vited him to the Auditorium Hotel, where he placed a suite of rooms at his disposal. After seeing him comfortably situ- ated, Mr. Carlin returned to his place of business.
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