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A Horrible Accident

A Horrible Accident image
Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
April
Year
1889
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Last week Thursdny night, between 11 and 12 o'clock, a student named W. G. Clausen, coming towards Ann Arbor on the Saline road, beard a cry of agony, "Murder, murder, Oh, help ! ' He startea over a lot in the direction of the cry. As he approached the S'.ate-st. crossing of the Toledo, Ann Arbor, and Nortb Michigan railroad, he heard the cry, "Oh, God, come quick." Mr. Classen found the mutilated body of a man lying near the track; one leg had been torn comp'etely off by a car wheel, and the other was nearly severed, both just below the knee. The unfortunate man was G. H. Bortle, 20 years oíd, a barber from Dundee, and a son of J. H. Bortle, of Saline. He was in Aun Arbor in company with a young man from Dundee named Peebles. The 10 o'clock trnin south Tnursday night was an hour late. The young men undertook to ride to Dundee wiihout meeting the conductor, and both were on the front platform of the baggage car. Bortle was on the lowest step. It is supposed that as he was holding on by the iron bars he swung out and struck against a fence at the crossing. There is no evidence that he was intozicated. Peebles was badly l'rightened at the disappearance of his companion, and at the next stuep grade, about a mile further, he jumped off, and started back. He secured a lantern at Mr. Sohwab's, and made quite a search, but Bortle had been removed. Mr. Uortle, after his terrible accident retained consciousnesi, and with his own bands bound up both stumps to stop the loss of blood, using a handkerchief for one and a neck ecarf for the other. It was at least 30 minutes bef ore he attracted the attention of two men, and while they were gone to bring a conveyance, Mr. Classen reached him as above described. The three men picked up the mangled body and took it to the University hospital. Young Borde was very cool acd brave. Atter he was in the buggy, he asked to have the severed le brought, and he said : "Gentleman, there's a pretty good pair of gloves lelt; bring them along." When he was in the hospital about 1230 o'clock he asked that his father be sent for. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bortle and their four children, one a young woman about 18 years old, arrived from Saline early the next morning, all, except the youngest, in the deepest, though nearly suppressed, agitation. There was very little hope that the young man could survive. Tbe surgeons were afraid to opérate, because the Bufferer had not rallied; but finally the amputation was done, and the young man liogered on till Saturday evening, when he dipd.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register