John M. Hoffmann Swung Off Fast Train - 1909

HOFFMANN, PORTZ

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 3/1/2016 at 10:06:46

DUBUQUE DAILY-TIMES JOURNAL, DECEMBER 2, 1909

WAS CLOSE TO DEATH
~
JOHN M. HOFFMANN SWUNG OFF
FAST TRAIN
~
MISSED HIS FOOTING AND LANDS
ON HIS FACE
~
Was Rolled Along Cinders, Sustaining
Badly Bruised Face, But Escaping
Serious Injury.
~
John M. Hoffmann of 2274 Washington Street had a narrow escape from being thrown under the wheels of a westbound Illinois Central passenger train Monday evening while he was bidding his uncle good-bye at the depot. He was thrown on his face and sustained a badly bruised physiognomy as the result of his mishap.

Nicholas Portz of Sioux Falls, S.D., had been visiting here and Monday night he started home. Mr. Hoffmann boarded the train with him and while they were conversing the train pulled out of the depot. When Mr. Hoffmann started for the door he found that it had been locked and he felt compelled to race through the car to the other end of the train before he could get off. By this time the train had pulled out of the station and was getting up speed through the yards. The train was going at a good clip near Railroad Avenue by the time Mr. Hoffmann found a door that was open.

Stepping onto the platform he started to swing off the train, missed his footing and was thrown to the ground with terrific force, lighting on his face. The momentum of the train and his body carried him along the cinder right of way on his face for some little distance. He was stunned by the force of the fall and as the accident occurred some distance from the depot, no one saw him. He finally got off the tracks and hobbled to the station. A physician was called and it was found that his face was badly bruised, but that no bones in his body were broken. He just missed being swung under the wheels of the car and considers he was fortunate to get off without more serious injury.