Tobin - John - 1896
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 7 August 1896
.
Monday night tramps passing through the Monon cut southeast of Wabash Avenue Bridge came upon the mangled remains of a man. The news quickly spread and in an incredibly short space of time a large number of people had collected at the spot. The horrible scene that there presented itself, though modified by darkness, was yet sickening. The remains of a man, crushed and torn almost beyond identification, the trunk severed at the chest, one arm absolutely torn from the shoulder, and internal organs and parts of the body strewn along the bloody track for a hundred yards, was found. Lights were brought and the remains were identified as those of John Tobin, the Monon section foreman who lives in Fiskville. Undertakers Carver and Robbins were sent for and took charge of the corpse, which was gathered up, placed in a box and brought to their operating rooms, where in the brilliant electric light the body as it lay in the box, and the face black, swollen and blood stained presented a spectacle revolting beyond expression.
The accident occurred about midnight between the Wabash Avenue and College Street bridges over the Monon track and beyond the fact that the unfortunate man was killed by south bound freight No. 73, which left the station about 8:20, the exact manner of the death will never be known. Tobin was seen on the streets in town in the evening shortly before the accident occurred, and it was seen that he was slightly under the influence of liquor, though not drunk. He was advised at that time by Officer _en Bannister to go home, and promised to do so, but that he did not, the awful sequel shows.
How he reached the fatal spot is not known, but a plausible supposition is that with his senses confused, for of habit led him to start out over his section, which runs south from the Pike Street Bridge, and reaching the place where he and his men were at work Monday, stopped and fell asleep on the track. In fact he was seen sitting on the edge of the track a few moments before the train passed, by the tramps who a few minutes later discovered the body, though at that time he was awake, and it is not probable that he was on his feet at the time the engine struck him, as in that case he would have been seen by the engineer, while in fact the latter knew nothing of an accident until while oiling his engine at Bloomington, he discovered blood on the wheels.
The deceased was born in County Waterford, Ireland, 48 years ago, came to this country while a boy and has resided in this city 18 years. He had been in the employ of the Monon for 20 years, 16 of which he was section foreman.
In many respects, he was an exemplary man, very quiet, very industrious, kind to his family and generous with his friends. His one weakness was a fondness for intoxicants, and it was seldom indeed that the succumbed to that. He was married 17 years ago to Mary Carroll, a daughter of Maurice Carroll, his wife and six children, the oldest 14 years of age, surviving him. They are not left unprovided for, as he owned the property in Fiskville in which he lived. His only near relatives in this country known are two brothers in New York.
The funeral occurred at the residence Wednesday morning promptly at 9 o’clock. Interment was at Calvary. -s
*****
Source: Greencastle Daily Banner & Times 6 Aug 1896
The funeral of John Tobin which occurred at the house at 9 o’clock this morning was attended by an unusually large number of people, the carriages forming a procession nearly a mile in length. The remains were interred in Calvary cemetery – Crawfordsville Journal.