Gillan - Benjamin - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Darlington, Ind Jan 29 -- Benjamin Gillan and M. Crisman, both farmers living two miles west of Darlington were struck this afternoon at a quarter past one o'clock by a special north bound Vandalia passenger train carrying the train master and general manager of the road while driving to this city in a buggy to attend the funeral of Morton Mote, a young man who died here Wednesday and who was a brother Odd Fellow of the two unfortunate men. Crisman died instantly, his head being crushed until it was almost unrecognizable. Gillan lived about 20 minutes he too having his head mashed in a terrible manner. The accident happened at the crossing of the Vandalia just north of the station in the heart of the city. The train was going at a rapid rate and struck the buggy squarely in the middle. The two men were struck by the head of the boiler and hurled to the side of the track, while the buggy was carried on the pilot a distance of more than one hundred yards. Marvelous as it seems the horse escaped without a scratch. The train was stopped immediately and an investigation made by the officials on the special. They were Superintendent F.T. Hatch, Trainmaster Burk and General Manager H.I. Miller. The dead men were carried to the undertaking establishment at Darlington where the bodies will be prepared for burial. Both men were about 50 years of age and were well-to-do and highly respected men. Mr. Gillan is a widower and leaves one unmarried daughter. Mr. Crisman leaves a wife and one adopted daughter. Both were prominent members of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Darlington and both were civil war veterans. - typed by kbz