Broke His Neck-Carl Olsen -1891

OLSEN, WHITNEY, SMITH, BURBANK, BRENIZER, MEYERS, JANSEN, STRUVE, MATZEN, AUSTIN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 5/27/2017 at 14:16:08

The Clinton Age, Clinton, Iowa, January 27, 1891

BROKE HIS NECK
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TRAGIC DEATH OF CARL OLSEN
YESTERDAY NOON
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He Falls Beneath a Moving Street
Car and Receives Fatal Injuries
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Occurred near the corner of Fourth Street and Third Avenue at noon yesterday which resulted in the death of Carl Olsen, an employee of the Clinton & Lyons Horse Railway Company.

Olsen was standing on the corner talking with some friends as a car approached from the east, and when nearly opposite to where he stood he ran onto the street and attempted to jump on the forward end. Olsen carried under his arm at the time an accordion, and in attempting to jump on the steps of the car he used his right hand only. In some manner, however, he slipped and lost his hold and in another moment was caught and dragged for some distance over the frozen ground by the scrapers ahead of the wheels.

As soon as possible Charles Whitney, the conductor, stopped the car and ran to the assistance of Olsen, whom he found in a reclining position near the track bleeding profusely from a bad cut on the right side of his head.

Several persons who witnessed the accident then came up and Olsen was carried into the car and as soon as possible was taken to Fifth Avenue, where Drs. G. A. Smith and J. C. Burbank were called and made a hasty examination of Olsen’s injuries. At this time Olsen was gasping and died within a few moments after the Dr’s. entered the car, and on further investigation it was found that aside from the scalp wound, the neck was broken.

Coroner Meyers was at once notified and the body was removed to Jansen & Struve’s undertaking establishment on Second Street, after which a jury composed of E. L. Austin, Peter Matzen, and George Brenizer were sworn in and reviewed the remains.

The met at Justice Brenizer’s office in the afternoon and heard the testimony of several witnesses in regard to the accident, but nothing could be constructed to attach blame to the driver or the company was brought out.

Dr. G. A. Smith testified that he was called to the car as soon as it reached Fifth Avenue with the injured man and found him in a dying condition. He made an examination of the head and found a long irregular cut on the right side, extending back toward the ear, the scalp was badly torn and lacerated and blood was flowing profusely; the skull was not fractured; he attempted to revive the man with brandy but found he was unable to swallow. Further examination showed that the man’s neck was broken, and he died within a few minutes after the doctor entered the car.

Charley Whitney, the conductor of the car on the Belt Line by which Olsen received his fatal injuries, stated that when the car was turning the corner going north Olsen ran from the sidewalk and attempted to jump on; that he slipped from the step and fell to the ground, the scraper in front of the wheel striking the unfortunate man in the head. Whitney stated that the car was going at its usual rate of speed and he thought the accident was due to carelessness on the part of Olsen in attempting to board the car by catching hold of the rail with one hand whole holding a parcel in the other.

Dr. J. C. Burbank and several others testified in the matter, but their evidence practically substantiates that already given. None of the witnesses thought Olsen was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

In regard to Olsen’s neck being broken the supposition is that he grabbed for the car and fell, his head struck the step and his body, being on the ground, turned him in such a manner as to break his neck, the accordion of which he had under his left arm was badly broken, showing that Olsen must have been dragged or rolled over after falling from the car.