Princeton Clarion Weekly Paper, Thursday, December 23, 1897

WAS A FATAL MIS-STEP

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A Francisco Farmer Steps off a Train Standing on a Trestle

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ALBERT T(ell). GREEK WAS KILLED

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Thought he was stepping on Terra Firma - Fell Fifty Feet in a Ravine and Died in an Hour

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The list of crimes and terrible accidents goes on at a rapid rate until they are almost a daily occurrence.

One of the saddest accidents that ever occurred in this section was that which befell Albert T. Greek, of Francisco, and which caused his death Tuesday, December 21.

A Plunge in the Darkness

Mr. Greek was on an Air-line local train, bound east with a car of stock. About 1:30 Tuesday morning the train stopped near Kyana and Greek thought he would take advantage of the stop to inspect his stock to see if it was all right. As he walked to the steps of the caboose he neglected the old injunction: “Look before you leap.” The night was very dark and it is doubtful that the farmer could have seen the yawning abyss over which the train stood. The man did not notice that the train was on a trestle and he certainly thought he was going to alight on solid and firm ground at a single step.

Instead of this, when he stepped from the caboose platform he shot down into a ravine nearly fifty feet deep and struck the ground at the bottom with a terrible force. He was

Dashed to Destruction

as if he was shot out of a gun and, as he realized his awful mistake, he emitted a blood-curdling shriek of anguish. This shriek ended in groans as the unfortunate struck the ground and the unusual noise attracted the attention of some of the train crew. An investigation was made which resulted in finding the almost lifeless body of Greek at the bottom of the ravine. He was tenderly conveyed to the train and taken to English, where physicians were summoned.

Died Within an Hour

The awful plunge had caused such a shock and such terrible pain that the victim’s constitution could not withstand it and medical assistance was of no effect. Within an hour after the accident the victim had breathed his last and the spirit had left the body forever.

The remains were cared for at English until the noon train, when they were shipped to Francisco. The relatives had been previously notified of the accident their grief was appalling. The many friends of the deceased offered all possible solace, but the shock was terrible and human sympathy was of little effect. The deceased was one this county’s prominent farmers and was well known and liked by everybody. He leaves a wife and several children, who are almost heartbroken over the terrible fate of husband and father.

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(Notes: He was the son of Joseph & Berilla (Mills) Greek, born 4 Apr 1850 in Evansville, Indiana. Wife was Sara Jane (Burchfield) Greek. married 17 Nov 1870.)