Osborn - Charles
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Wednesday, 26 July 1893
Last night just beyond Jamestown a freight train was delayed for some cause and the conductor sent Charles Osborn, a brakeman, back some distance to flag the west bound passenger train which was soon due. Osborn, who was very tired, took his lantern and started back the track. It is supposed that he sat down to await the passenger train and being worn out by heat and work, fell asleep. At any rate he was truck while sitting or lying on the track, by the passenger train which came along. The train was stopped and the poor fellow was picked up from the ditch where he had been knocked. Dr. Ensminger was wired from Jamestown and met the train at the Plum Street station. He found that Osborn had had the top of his head crushed in and from the gaping hole, his brains were oozing out. His injuries were pronounced fatal and in lieu of a better place the poor fellow was taken to McClure & Scott’s undertaking establishment to moan his life away on a stretcher.
This morning a man was sent by the road to take off Osborn’s shoes, wash his face and fan him until he died. The boy’s mother and stepfather, Felden Toney and wife, of Jamestown, arrived this morning and were taken to the undertaker’s shop where the injured man lay. His wife arrived from Urbana this afternoon. The women took the matter greatly to hart and the scenes at the undertaker’s shop were distressing. The young man, who was very powerful, had frequent convulsions during the morning and had to be held. About noon he tore his trouser off at one wrench and threw them across the room. This afternoon the young man is still alive, his mother, father and attendant sitting by his side, keeping the flies off with an old flag. Mr. Scott, of the establishment has been kept busy all day driving back the cheeky and senseless loafers whose indecent and morbid curiosity has prompted them to wild rush in for a good square look at the man with a crushed head. The proprietors of the establishment did not want the man taken there while he was still alive and consented only because there was no other place open. There is something horribly and ludicrously grotesque in taking a man to an undertaker’s shop to wait a day or so for death to come. It is a forcible argument for the founding of some small hospital where such cases can be properly cared for. It’s pretty tough for a fellow to have to pass the last few hours of life on a stretcher in the back room of an undertaker’s shop. How does it strike you? -s
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Thursday, 27 July 1893
Charles Osborn, the young man injured on the Big Four Tuesday night, was alive last evening at sundown so a moving wagon was chartered and he was removed from the undertaker’s shop, where he had laid on a stretcher since the night before surrounded by rows of coffins, cooling boards, barrels of embalming fluid and the other pleasing and comfortable paraphernalia of a death shop.
He was taken to the home of Wm M. Snyder, next door to Bandel’s tombstone establishment. Here he was cared for in the best manner possible and his sufferings alleviated as much as possible. This morning he was resting somewhat easier although no hopes were entertained of his recovery.
His grandfather, a wealthy farmer, lived within a half a mile of where he was hurt and his parents lived in Jamestown through which the train was carrying his mutilated body passed.
At 3 o’clock this afternoon Osborn is still alive although no hopes are entertained of his ultimate recovery. When his crushed skull is touched more than lightly, he passes into unconsciousness. The injured man is said to be a member of the K of P.
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Friday, 28 July 1893
Charles Osborn, the young man so terribly injured on the Big Four Tuesday night, is still alive and strange to relate, somewhat better. He has to a certain degree regained consciousness and is able to recognize his wife and perceive strangers in the room. It is thought that by tomorrow he can readily distinguish the tombstones in the adjoining lot and other cheerful things. The physicians think that there is a fighting chance for his recovery. He is possessed of a tremendous vitality, otherwise he could never have stood half he has gone through. His brains were knocked out to a very considerable extent and what effect the loss of a large portion of this rather essential member will have on him in case of his recovery it is hard to calculate. -s
Source: Weekly Argus News Aug 19, 1893 p 4
William Reeves has been appointed administrator of the estate of Charles Osborn, deceased. Osborn, it will be remembered wa sthe BIg 4 brakeman who was sent ahead to flag a passenger train some weeks ago but who sat down on the ties to rest and fell asleep. He was awakened by the heavy engine bearing down upon him but too late and sustained injuries which resulted in death in 48 hours. The administrator is preparing to bring suit for damages against the railroad company on the grounds that Osborn had been compelled to do extra work until he was completely worn out and wholly unfit for duty at the time of his accident. - transcribed by kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 29 July 1893
A Big Four Brakeman Horribly Mashed Up Last Night, Tuesday just beyond Jamestown a freight train was delayed for some cause and the conductor sent Charles Osborn, a brakeman, back some distance to flag the west bound passenger train which was soon due. Osborn, who was very tired, took his lantern and started back the track. It is supposed that he sat down to await the passenger train and, being worn out by heat and work, fell asleep. At any rate he was struck while sitting or lying on the track, by the passenger train which came along. The train was stopped and the poor fellow was picked up from the ditch where he had been knocked. Dr. Ensminger was wired from Jamestown and met the train at the Plum street station. He found that Osborn had had the top of his head crushed in and from the gap ping hole his brains were oozing out. His injuries were pronounced fatal and in lieu of a better place the poor fellow was taken to McClure & Scott's undertaking establishment to moan hie life away on a stretcher. Wednesday a man was sent by the road to take off Osborn's shoes, wash his face and fan him until he died. The boy's mother and step father, Fielden Toney and wife, of Jamestown, arrived Wednesday and were taken to the undertaker's shop, where the injured man lay. His wife arrived from Urbana this afternoon. The women took the matter greatly to heart and the scenes at the undertaker's shop were distressing The young man, who was very powerful, had frequent convulsions during the morning and had to be held. About noon he tore his trousers off at one wrench and threw them across the room. The proprietors of the establishment did not want the man taken there while he was still alive and consented only because there was no other place open. There is something horribly and ludicrously grotesque in taking a man to an undertaker's shop to wait a day or so for death to come. It is a forcible argument for the founding of some small hospital where such cases can be properly cared for. It's pretty tough for a fellow to have to pass the last few hours of life on a stretcher in the back room of an undertaker's shop. How does it strike you? - thanks to Kim H
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 29 July 1893
The Case of Charles Osborn Charles Osborn, the young man injured on the Big Four Tuesday night, was alive Wednesday at sundown so a moving wagon was chartered and he was removed from the undertaker's shop, where he had laid on a stretcher since the nigh before surrounded by rows of coffins, cooling boards, barrels of embalming fluid and the other pleasing and comfortable paraphernalia of a death shop. He was taken to the home of Wm. M. Snyder, next door to Bandel's tombstone establishment. Here he was cared for in the best manner possible and his sufferings alleviated as much as possible. Thursday he was resting somewhat easier although no hopes were entertained of his recovery. His grandfathers wealthy farmer, lived within a half a mile of where he was hurt and his parents lived in Jamestown through which the train carrying his mutilated body passed. At 3 o'clock Thursday Osborn was still alive although no hopes were entertained of his ultimate recovery. When his crushed skull is touched more than lightly he passes into convulsions. The injured man is said to be a member of the K. of P. - thanks to Kim H
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Saturday, 29 July 1893
Charles Osborn, the injured brakeman, is still alive and there are hopes of his recovery. This morning his skull was trephined and the wound dressed. This was done by boring holes in his skull near the edges where it was mashed in, and the crushed skull pryed up from pressing on the brain. The operation was performed by Dr. Ensminger, assisted by Drs. Keegan, Cowan and May. Osborn was under the influence of chloroform. The doctors say that they can yet say that he will recover, yet there is a chance that he will survive. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 5 August 1893
Charles Osborn, the brakeman injured on the Big Four last Tuesday night, died at about 12 o'clock Saturday night, never having regained entire consciousness. He had a sinking spell Saturday morning and continued to grow worse until death ended his sufferings. The body was taken to his old home near Jamestown today for interment. His mother, wife and sister took his death very much to heart, and from the time it occurred until the train left with the remains their lamentations and agonized cries filled the air. The whole affair has been most lamentable and pitiful. - thanks to Kim H
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Wednesday, 22 August 1894
This morning, through Paul & Bruner, the administrator of the estate of Charles Osborn, deceased, W. M. Reeves filed suit in the circuit court for $10,000 damages. The complaint alleges that in July, 1893, the decedent was a freight brakeman on the Big Four Railroad; that for several nights and days previous to his injuries he was forced to work without rest because the road was short of hands; that one evening his train reached Peoria, Ill., and he was allowed to go to his boarding house to get the sleep denied for about seventy five hours; that he had not been asleep half an hour when forced to get up and take a place on an extra freight that had been made up to run to Indianapolis; that Osborn, worn out, took the place of head brakeman, and did the work until Jamestown was reached; that there he was sent ahead to flag the passenger train; that he set his red lantern down between the rails and that the by-laws of the railroad company expressly state that no train shall run over one of these lights; that Osborn knowing this and that it could be seen a mile down the track, sat down on the ends of the ties; that he was worn out and fell asleep; that the passenger train disregarded the red light and ran over it fracturing the skull of Osborn who did awaken quickly enough to escape; that Osborn was not given medical attendance at Jamestown when it could be easily had, but was brought on to Crawfordsville and was not treated until 9 o’clock the following morning. He died of the injuries received and his estate now asks $10,000 damages from the railroad company.