gigamatic

[Great-grandfather] Instantly Killed at Miller's Crossing
Went to Sleep on The Tracks Saturday Night
Body Found, Sunday Morning And Brought to Wolfe's Morgue-- Funeral Monday

While sleeping on the westbound Pennsylvania tracks at Miller's Crossing, one mile west of West Lafayette, [great grandfather] aged 38, was struck by a train some time between 10 and 2 o'clock Saturday night and killed.

His dead body was discovered lying between the eastbound and westbound tracks by Frank B. of Coshocton, who was walking home from West Lafayette about 2 o'clock Sunday morning. [great grandfather] was last seen alive by Ernest D. of West Lafayette, the operator at the Morgan Run crossing, who found [great grandfather] sitting on the westbound track around 10 o'clock. D. was going home. He got [great grandfather] up off the track and [great grandfather] promised he would not sit down on the tracks again but would go on home. He talked sensibly and D. could only leave him alone. He probably sat down on the tracks again and may have been struck by the midnight train no. 25.

When found, his head was crushed in at the forehead and he evidently had been struck in the head by the engine or knocked in such a way that his head struck the ground with terrific force. The only other bruise on his body was on the left elbow where a round patch of skin was knocked off. The body was brought to Coshocton on a hand car about daylight and was met at the station here by Undertaker Wolfe and taken to Wolfe's morgue on Fourth street in the ambulance. He was identified by relatives and friends in Coshocton. At 11:30 Sunday, undertaker Noah Rehard arrived from West Lafayette and drove back with the body.

[great grandfather] was a coal miner employed at Louis Summer's mine about three miles southwest of West Lafayette and about five miles north of Plainfield. He leaves a wife and three children, the oldest being nine years old, in very poor circumstances.

[great grandfather] had driven to West Lafayette Sunday evening and bought some groceries and then returned to his home with the provisions. Later, he and Frank Haver, who figured in another accident a few weeks ago near Morgan Run, drove to Coshocton. Saturday evening, [great grandfather], Haver, and George Lint started for home in [great grandfather]'s buggy. When Mr. Lint's home was reached near the infirmary, Lint and Haver got out and [great grandfather] drove on alone. It seems he got lost and when he reached Dave Noble's he got out and went in the house.

He told them his name and wanted to know where he was. They got him in the buggy again and he started on, but it wasnt very long until they heard a noise out in the barnyard and were surprised when they went out to find [great grandfather]'s buggy still there. Sunday morning they learned that he had been killed about a mile farther on.

[great grandfather] was born in the Plainfield vicinity and was known in the eastern section of the county although he lived a humble life. He was industrious and a good provider, it is said.

The funeral services were held Monday afternoon. The cortege left the house about 1 o'clock for the MP church at Plainfield where the services were conducted at 2 o'clock by Reverend Hewitt. Interment was made in Plainfield cemetery.

[great grandfather] was dressed in his old clothes Saturday night with a black slouch hat. When found, he had no coat on having left it in the buggy. In his trousers was found a pocket book containing 40 cents in money and the memorandum for groceries which he had purchased Saturday evening.

William L. of Coshocton, is a brother of [great grandfather] and Louis Bassett of the Citizens Telephone Co. is a brother in law.

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