Hall - Thomas - 1900 - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Those persons at the Monon station Tuesday afternoon awaiting the arrival of the south bound passenger train were treated to as tragic a sight as one ever happens on. The train was a little late and came sweeping across the fill at its usual goodly speed. Just a little way beyond the north end of the station there is a path crossing the track from east to west and along this path from the houses on the east side came the old man, stepping upon the track just in time to be struck fairly by the engine.. He is quite deaf, it is said, but the approaching train was in full view. He however, was intent on looking at the people on the platform and consequently neither saw nor heard. The pilot, hit. him with great force and he was thrown upon it in an instant Agent Wasson saw the whole tiling from the station window and says of the sight: He simply doubled back on the pilot when struck and I stood there almost paralyzed. I looked every instant for him to roll off under the wheels and be ground to pieces before us all. and once he started to roll but luckily went down against. the flag staff and stuck there. Engineer Ronan did not see him hit, he looking out. of the window on the station side, of course, but his fireman did and yelled frantically. The engine went about a hundred yards after the accident and stopped right in front of the station with the old man sticking on pilot" When the train stopped, the bystanders lifted the unconscious and bleeding form from the pilot and laid it on a truck. Pillows were hurriedly brought from the adjoining houses and Dr. Ensminger, the road's physician, was summoned. Hall was found to be suffering from a compound fracture of the leg and an ugly scalp wound. Thos. Hall was an old resident of the county and was at one time in good circumstances. He was a brother of Joseph Hall, of east of the city. He resided until recently with Jim Irons, near the Iron bridge, but more lately has lived with the widow Ransdell, beyond the fill. He was a widower and was said to have no children.

Shortly before five o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Thomas Hall, the old man struck by the south bound Monon passenger train at the station Tuesday afternoon, died from the result of his injuries at the home of James Clouse on east Wabash avenue, where he was taken about three o'clock. Besides the fracture of his leg and scalp wound he had suffered internal injuries not at first noted. His advanced age too was against him and he failed rapidly after being taken to the Clouse home. Mr. Hall was born in Madison township about seventy-five years ago and had lived here all his life. He was married three times and his wives and all his children lie buried in Oak Hill, at which place his interment occurred Wednesday after funeral services at the Clouse residence. -- transcribed by Kim H