Loses legs, Elkport, 1882

KILGARIN, FITZPATRICK, ALDRICH

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/20/2017 at 19:15:24

Another of those terrible accidents which causes one to shudder as he reads it, occurred at the depot in this place last Friday afternoon, in which Byran Kilgarin, a laborer on Conductor Aldrich's train was seriously injured.

When the train moved out of the depot, Kilgarin ran along the depot platform, and in attempting to jump on the car, lost his balance and fell backwards, his legs falling across the rails. Mr. Fitzpatrick, the road master, who was within a few feet of the man, ran to his assistance and catching him by the pants, pulled his feet off the track, thus preventing the train from running over his body, which had been thrown near the track when the forward wheels passed over his legs.

The train, which was not moving faster than three miles an hour, was immediately stopped and the unfortunate man was taken to the office of a physician where his legs were amputated below the knees. The space between the depot platform and the cars was very small, and Mr. Fitzpatrick ran considerable risk in acting as he did.

Kilgarin has a brother and sister residing in Lansing and a sister in McGregor. He was a single man, and about 35 years old. The latest reports state that Mr. Kilgarin will certainly survive the effects of his accident.

~Elkader Register 8 Dec. 1882. Elkport Locals column.

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Barney Kilgarin, who had both legs cut off, a short time since, by slipping under the cars at this place, was taken to Dubuque, Sunday, and taken to the hospital for better treatment than he could receive elsewhere. A special car was sent here for him, and the poor fellow was transferred to and from the cars on a stretcher.

~Elkader Register, Fri., 2 Feb. 1883. Elkport Locals column.