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Parent Issue
Day
15
Month
September
Year
1899
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

WHILE WHIPPING HER HORSE

Miss Jane Lamb was Struck by Engine

HER NECK WAS BROKEN

She Tried to Get Across the Track but the Horse Reared.

The coroner's jury in the case of the woman killed Wednesday on Fuller street, was convened this morning in Funeral Director Martin's rooms. Coroner Watts had summoned Edward Duffy, William A. Clark, George Feiner, W. K. Childs and James Bach. Their verdict was that Jane Lamb had come to her death by being struck by an engine of train No. 31, on the Michigan Central Railroad while crossing the track at the Fuller street crossing, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 1899, and that no blame can be attached to the Michigan Central railroad company or any of its employees.

The first witness sworn was Engineer John Scallen. He testified that he resided 254 Adlor street, Detroit. He had been in the employ of the Michigan Central as engineer for 27 years. He was the engineer of the American Express train known as No. 31. When his train was approaching Ann Arbor from the east he shut off early on account of his having to take the side track. As he applied the air brakes he noticed a horse and buggy approaching driven by a woman coming up the hill towards the track. He had put on the air brake preparatory to slacking up. Saw the woman get up in her buggy and whip her horse. He concluded she intended to cross over the track and he made full application of the brake. The woman had something in her hand. She continued to whip her horse until they struck her. He was using the danger whistle consisting of short sharp blasts. He could not stop the train, which was going at 30 miles an hour. It was about 130 feet from the time he was her until the train struck the buggy. At a distance of 75 feet he made a full application of the brakes. When the train struck the woman, she landed on the bed of the engine plate. She stayed on it until taken off. The bell of the engine was ringing as he approached the crossing.

Chauncey W. Knight the fireman said steam had been shut off the engine on account of taking the sidetrack. The engineer gave the danger signal and applied the air brakes full force, the bell ringing at this time. He could not see the woman in the buggy until within a probable distance of twenty or thirty feet. When he did see her she was whipping and urging her horse. She seemed determined to cross the track and kept on coming until she was struck. The pilot struck the front wheels of the buggy. The pilot beam struck the horse on the hip. He did not see where the woman went until the train stopped. They went a little over a train length after striking the woman before they could stop. When they did stop, he went around the engine and saw the woman lying on the pilot sheet,her head hanging down between that and the saddle of the engine.

Joseph Cebulskie, residing at No. 113 E. Summit st, testified that he was a delivery man for the Hammond Beef Co. He saw the accident. Just as he was on Fuller st. going east, he saw a horse and buggy coming over the river bridge on Wall st., going west. He heard the train whistle, and stopped his horse within 20 or 25 rods of the track. When the buggy got across the bridge the train whistled for the crossing. He heard the electric signal bell ring. He saw the lady who was driving, whipping her horse. He then heard the train whistle for danger. Saw the lady raise up in her buggy and scream while urging her horse. When they got to the track the horse reared up on his hind feet, while she continued screaming and whipping. When the engine struck the buggy he saw the lady go up in the air.

James Miller, residing at No. 313 E. Washington avenue, a carpenter working on the residence of Frank Minnis, heard the whistle and then the crash.

Mrs. J. F. Squires, of No. 1326 Fuller st., was at the window when the accident happened, and saw the collision. She saw the woman whipping her horse.

Monmouth Msller, of No. 312 E. Washington st., also heard the collision.

Dr. Ernest A. Clark testified as to

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WHILE WHIPPING HER HORSE

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making an examination of the woman. He found a slight bruise on the right shoulder. Upon closer examination he found her neck broken. Her skin was not broken.

Albertus Hoxie, a medical student, also heard the crash of the collision.

Miss Jane Lamb was the daughter of the late James Lamb, of Russelltown Flats, Benharnis county, Ont., where she was bom. She was 55 years of age. For the past 35 years she had made her home with her sister, Mrs. Rebecca Smith, of Dixboro. The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at o'clock in the Dixboro church.