Barnett - Charles - train - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Charles Barnett aged 19 years, the son of James W. Barnett, of West Market Street, met a sad and untimely death last Thursday shortly after 2 o’clock. Quite a large delegation of Crawfordsville people assembled at the Monon station to go to Lafayette to witness the football game. The unfortunate lad, in company with Fred McDaniel, happened at the station about train time and suddenly determined that they too, would go up to witness the spectacle. They waited until the train rolled in, and when it stopped, they watched their opportunity, and unobserved by the train crew, climbed up on top of the rear coach. All went well until the train was within two miles of Lafayette. Barnett was sitting with his back to the engine and was struck there by the overhead bridge south of the city, where the Wabash Road crosses over the Monon. One of the iron beams supporting the roof of the bridge struck him on the back of the head at the top and crushed almost the entire skull. Pieces of bone were driven into the brain by the force of the blow and Barnett never knew what hurt him. The train was running at full speed at the time of the accident and the blow was delivered with terrific force.  McDaniel escaped unhurt. Signal ropes are stretched across the track at either end of the overhead bridges to warn new or careless employees of danger. These ropes are placed at sufficient distance to enable the man warned to lie down before the bridge is reached. One of these ropes struck McDaniel in the face and he knew what it meant, and was able to throw himself flat on the car roof in time to avoid the bridge. The rope either missed Barnett or else he did not know what it meant, for he remained sitting upright until the beam struck him. He fell and would have rolled off the car had not McDaniel, with remarkable grit, seized him and held him until the car was stopped.

James Caldwell, bridge foreman on the Monon, was riding in the rear coach. As Barnett was struck by the bridge, Mr. Caldwell heard the blow and heard Barnett’s body strike the roof of the car. Thinking that an accident had happened, Mr. Caldwell went to the rear door of the coach. As he opened the door he saw a hat lying on the track and saw drops of blood falling from the roof of the car. He pulled the bell rope and the train was stopped. Barnett was taken from the top of the car and placed in the vestibule of the coach and taken on to Lafayette.

When it stopped at the Columbia Street station the unfortunate lad was removed to the baggage room and the police proceeded to beat back the great crowd which hurried to the spot. Coroner Tea was summoned, and when he came, found the boy still alive. He was unconscious and motionless, but at times it could be seen that he still breathed.

Dr. Beasley, surgeon of the Monon, was then called and a glance showed him that the case was hopeless and that death would soon intervene. He ordered the case turned over to Trustee Kramer. Before this could be done the boy died, the end coming at 3:05 as he lay on his rude couch in the baggage room. He had not uttered a word or a groan and did not show any signs of suffering.

The news was telephoned to Crawfordsville and Wm Scott, the undertaker, went to the Barnett residence and broke the news to the sisters of the victim, who were at home alone. Mrs. Barnett had gone to Indianapolis in charge of an invalid friend, and upon her return on the evening train was acquainted with the sad accident by auditor White. Mr. Barnett was absent in southern Illinois and was not found until Friday. The family is terribly shocked and saddened by the death. The funeral occurred Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock from the family residence. - thanks super much to S for typing this sad affair :(