A TERRIBLE DEATH.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2981, 8 July 1878, Page 2

A TERRIBLE DEATH.

A* horrible railway fatality occurred recently at Frederick Junction, on the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, in the United States. A brakesman on a freight train left the engine^ short distance from the junction and went for* ward to adjust the switch,. He then signalled the train to approach, when to his horror he found himself a prisoner, his foot having become tightly wedged in a "frog." The train was swiftly approaching,' and the wretched man, realising his perilous position, struggled desperately to free himself, but without effect. He shrieked loudly, but the noise of the moving train drowned the sound of his voice, and as the night was dark, the driver of the engine could not see him. When * the locomotive was nearly, on him, he gathered all his force and hurled his body over the side of the track. Just as he did so the wheels passed over his leg, crushing it to atoms. His body was also twisted round and fearfully mutilated, He was, however, still alive, and lingered for two days before death put an end to his sufferings. Such an accident, it is asserted, is without parallel, but we happen to know of one very narrow escape from a similar fate. A .prominent resident of Lyttelton once caught his foot in one of those man traps known as "diamond points" on the Gladstone pier, and be.same fast held while a long line of trucks was bearing down upon him, apparently with the certainty of running over him. He did not struggle wildly, but with the * greatest presence of mind bent down and dragged his foot out by main force, just in time to escape being crushed to pieces, as the poor brakesman above was. The incident, we believe, has never been recorded. —Exchange.