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■ kJ.T. Chevalier Run Down and Killed bythe Santa Fe Plug Train.J. F. Chevalier met a horrible death ;t the dangerous crossing of the San-iaFe track at the north end of New Hampshire street a few minutes be--fore 8 o’clock Monday morning. The jdeath can be attributed partly to the carelessness of the dead man andpartly to the unlawful speed of thetrain within the city limits. The terrible accident was witnessed by J. A. Henley, of the barb wire factory, Ed. Monk, of the Douglas County Mills,smd others. Mr. Chevalier had driven Wg team to the south side of the railroad track and left it standing between the paper mill and barb wire factory, while he walked across the track to see if it was clear. He had .brought his wagon and team for the purpose of hauling some scrap wire belonging to J. D. Bowersock away from near the warehouse where afc; was piled, to the north end of the dam. The morning passenger train of the Santa Fe came in from the west iust at this moment, running at a speed which must have been far in excess of six miles an hour. Mr. Monk says that Mr. Chevalier evidently saw or heard the train coming, for he started to run across -the track, probably to attend to his horses which were standing unhitched. The cow catcher of the engine caught him and he was lifted up and thrown with terrific force against the boiler head, carried a distance of twelve or fifteen feet and dropped to the left of the track. His skull was broken and mashed in a horrible manner, his right arm broken and his should^* dislocated. Blood flowed from the wounds in the head in large quantities. The train stopped about one block farther on and the trainmen came back to learn the seriousness of the accident. Dr. Anderson and Coroner Horner were telephoned for -immediately, and the former arriving first, said that nothing could be done for the unfortunate man. Dr. Hornor arriving later examined the wound and found that the skull was crushed in upon the brain and decided to attempt the operation of raising it. After the man had been carried into the paper mill this operation was commenced, but found to be useless, as pieces of the cranium had been forced into the brain. Death came a few minutes before 9 o’clock, or about one hour after the aeci ent occurred.There are two crossings at the point where the accident occurred (not public, however), one leading to Bowersock’s mill and the other to the river. Mr. Chevalier was struck at one crossing and carried to the other one, his head striking the end of the plank at the latter where the body dropped from the engine. On the end of this plank considerable of the dead man’s hair but no blood was found, showing that he fell head first from the cow catcher and very close to the track.The remains have lain the greater part of the day in the undertaking establishment of R. W. Robertson and at 3 o’clock this afternoon the coroner had not had a jury empanneled to hold an inquest although he said that such would be held.John F. Chevalier was about 72 years of age and was a French a an by birth. He came to Douglas county about twuty-five years ago and lived on a fine farm in the bottom between this city and Eudora many years. He traded the place to a man named Pavey a few years ago and the two men have had no end of trouble in the courts over it and other matters. During the last term of court Mr. Chevalier was awarded 8800 against Pavey by a jury in a case in which the transfer of #the land was alleged to be fraudulent. The deceased was the father of about ten children by his first wife, from whom he was divorced. His last home was ou south New Jersey street where he lived with his second wife. Mr. Chivlier leaves behind him many friends.
Newspaper Details
Lawrence Weekly Record
Lawrence, Kansas, US
Fri, Jun 19, 1891
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Lawrence P.
KS, USA 24 Apr 2023
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