John Mitchell (-1883)

MITCHELL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/21/2010 at 21:45:57

From Story County Watchman May 4, 1883

KILLED.--John Mitchell, a young man living near Center Grove, in the edge of Polk county, came up to Center Grove to church, and after services were over, concluded to climb on a freight train coming up the grade from the west and have a little ride, was thrown under the train and ran over. The train passed over his right leg, between the knee and hip, almost severing the leg from the body. Also passing over the left foot, crushing it in a horrible manner, and also a finger of the right hand was cut off, and a bad cut was received over the left eye. Several other cuts and contusions were received about the head and face. Dr. Robinson was called and immediately went to work and amputated the right leg at the upped third of the femer, leving a stump of abouth four inches. The Dr. in his judgment, deemed it unwise to attempt the amputation of the left foot, and concluded to let the patient rest from the first operation before proceeding to remove the other injured member. But before reaction had fully set in, evidence of internal injuries began to develop and in a few hours began to expectorate blood, which proved beond all question of doubt the injured man's death from internal hemorrhage.

Dr. Robinson's skill, as a surgeon, is equaled by a very few surgeons in the west, and we feel sure that all was done for the man that could be done.

Cambridge, April 30th, 1883.