MURPHY, James - Putnam

Source: Sunday Star, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana Feb 11, 1901 p 1

James Murphy, aged 22 years, was frightfully crushed and mangled at the Monon Station in this city shortly after 3 o'clock on Wednesday morning underneath the wheels of a Monon freight train.  In company with Henry Brennan he had been spending the day at Greencastle and they returned on a night freight train.  Brennan got off the train at the junction but Murphy came on down to expecting to get off at the town station and go to the home of his father, James Murphy in Fiskville.  The through freight does not stop at the station and to make the grade north of the city sped past the depot at a rate of 30 miles an hour.  The young man was flung under the cars as he leaped, to the platform, his feet slipping and his head striking a car corner.  His feet were ground to a pulp and one leg ground off close to the body.  His cries attracted the attention of the night operator who ran to his assistance.  A surgeon was called and the right foot amputated at once.  Murphy told a clear story of the accident and put it as given here.  He was a member of Company M, 158th Indiana Regiment Volunteers in the Cuban Wr and a barber at one time in the shop of Eliza Doyle.  He was a member of the Knights of S4.  John was unmarried.  Everybody who knew him was his friend, as he was a bright and cheery young man of good habits and much energy.  Reently he has had no regular employment.  

Source: Same

Death at 8 o'clock on Thursday night ended the terrible sufferings of James Murphy, he dying at the home of his fathe rin Fiskeville.  He was conscious up to the last and bade his friends and kinsmen an affectionate farewell. His funeral will be conducted from the St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church by Rev. Father Dempsey this afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 15 February 1901

James Murphy, who was fatally injured while getting off a Monon caboose last Wednesday, died Thursday night about eight o’clock at the home of his father, James Murphy, 607 Kentucky Street. The young man was conscious almost to the last and discussed his accident with his relatives and fiends. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon at two o’clock at St. Bernard’s Church, Father Dempsey officiating. The interment was at Calvary. -s

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly News-Review 9 Feb 1901

James Murphy, who was run over by the cars Wednesday morning is still alive but his case is hopeless. He passed a restless night and when Dr. Ensminger, called just before noon he was almost pulseless. The doctor ventures the opinion that grit and determination is all that is keeping him alive.  He is conscious the greater portion of the time and talks calmly of his terrible misfortune.  His condition is not such as to warrant the doctors in amputation his remaining foot which is crushed and utterly lifeless.  He may pass away at any time and certainly can not survive many hours.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 8 February 1901

Wednesday morning at half past three o’clock James Murphy, a well known young man of this city, was fatally injured while alighting from a swiftly moving freight train at the Monon station. Murphy together with Henry Brennan had been at Greencastle getting up a business card directory and last night they concluded to come home. They boarded the caboose of a north bound freight and reached the junction in safety. There they got off and Brennan went home. Murphy, however, clambered on the front of the caboose, thinking that he could get off at the station and then walk over the fill to his father’s home. The train, however, did not stop at the station, but in order to make the grade beyond went shooting by at the rate of nearly thirty miles an hour. Murphy realizing that the train would not stop became confused and leaped off on the east side of the track when the station was reached. He slipped when his foot struck the ground and fell back under the wheels. His head struck the boxing of the car and both of his feet were ground to a pulp. His skull was fractured by contact with the boxing, an ugly dent being made in his forehead between the eyes. The trainmen knew nothing of the accident, but after the train had passed, the night operator at the station was attracted by Murphy’s pitiful cries for help. He ran out and upon seeing the condition of the young man, telephoned for a carriage and doctor. The unfortunate young man was taken to the home of his father, James Murphy Sr., of 607 Kentucky Avenue and Doctors Ensminger and Dennis were soon on hand to attend him. He was conscious and told the story of his accident with clearness and detail. He did not realize the serious character of his injuries, however, and was surprised when informed that his foot would have to be amputated. The right foot was taken off but the left foot was not, it being feared that the patient could not sustain the shock.  James Murphy, familiarly known as “Red”, has been a well known and popular young man about town. He was a barber by trade and was for a long time employed at Elsa Doyle’s Main Street shop. He was a member of the Knights of St. John and during the Spanish War served in Company M of the 158th Indiana regiment. He was well liked by all and the news of his distressing accident caused great regret. – thanks so much to “S” for all her great obit work on this site

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly News-Review Feb 16, 1901 p 3

James Murphy died Thursday about 8 o’clock at his homein Fiskville, from the injuries he sustained Wednesday morning by falling under a Monon freight train.  He was about 25 years of age.  He was a member of Company , 158th regiment during the Spanish-American war and also a member of the drill team of the Knight of St. John.  Mr. Murphy was by occupation a barber, having worked in several shops in the city. He was a young man who was well liked because of his genial disposition and pleasant manners and his death will be received with much regret by a large number of friends and acquaintances. The funeral took place from the Catholic Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, the Rev. Father Dempsey officiating. Interment at the Catholic Cemetery.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review 16 Feb 1901 p 8

The funeral of James Murphy took place Sunday afternoonat St. Bernards Church and was largely attended. Rev. Father Dempsey conducted the services and the Knights of St. John and member of old Co M acted as escort. The pall bearers were form the Knights of St. John. The burial at Mt. Calvary was attended by military honors.