Frank Koester Suffered Loss of Lower Limbs 1904

KOESTER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/27/2016 at 22:34:12

Dubuque Telegraph Herald, July 18, 1904

BOYS LEGS WERE
CUT OFF
BY
TRAIN
~
FRANK KOESTER, 10 YEARS
OLD, SUFFERED LOSS OF HIS
LOWER LIMBS EASRLY
SUNDAY EVENING
~
While attempting to board a Great Western train Sunday evening near Fifteenth Street, Frank Koester of 1805 Jackson Street, lost his footing and fell beneath the cars and lost his legs.

Koester was coming downtown, when he saw the Great Western train, No. 60, a fast stock train on the way to Chicago come into sight. At a point only a short distance above Fifteenth and Elm Streets, he waited for the train. He made an effort to get on one of the cars. He got a grip on one of the iron steps and put his foot on the box. In some manner his foot slid off and he lost his hold and was dragged under the cars. Fortunately, the body was not dragged farther to the cars, but as it was his lower limbs were badly mangled, one of them cut off cleanly, while the most serious injury to the other was the severing of the foot at the instep. The young man was seen along the tracks and aid was summoned. When the doctor reached the scene Koester held the leg that was severed, while it was dressed. He displayed wonderful vitality. He bore the pain bravely.

He was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he rested fairly well during the night. There were fears entertained for his recovery, but his strong constitution is apparently much aid to him. This morning Koester was taken to the operating room, where surgeons amputated the maimed serious injury to the other was the severing