DAVID WHELCHEL
A BAD ACCIDENT
MAY 15, 1902
TRANSCRIBED BY : TINA EASLEY
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/
DAVE WHELCHEL HAS A NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH AT LAKE STREET CROSSING .
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TRAIN RAN INTO HIS TEAM , INFLICTING INJURIES ON HIMSELF AND MAIMING HIS HORSES.
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DAVE WHELCHEL , THE WELL - KNOWN DRAYMAN , HAD A NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH THIS MORNING AT 10 O'CLOCK AT THE COTTON BELT CROSSING ON LAKE STREET . HE WAS DRIVING HIS WAGON AND GOING EAST . HE DID NOT OBSERVE A SWITCH ENGINE BACKING NORTH TOWARD THE WATER TANK , UNTIL TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE ENGINE WAS PUSHING A BOX CAR AND A FLAT , THE FLAT BEING LOADED WITH RAILROAD IRONS . THE FLAT WAS IN FRONT. IT STRUCK MR. WHELCHEL'S WAGON , WHICH WAS ACROSS THE TRACK , AND KNOCKED IT INTO KINDLING WOOD . WHELCHEL WAS THROWN VIOIENTLY TO THE GROUND , THE BACK OF HIS HEAD STRIKING AN IRON RAIL AND CUTTING A LONG GASH TO THE BONE . HIS RIGHT ARM WAS HURT AND HE SUFFERED INJURIES IN THE BACK. FORTUNATELY HE WAS THROWN OFF THE TRACK , OR ELSE HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN GROUND TO DEATH UNDER THE CAR WHEELS.
MR. WHELCHEL WAS PICKED UP IN AN ALMOST INSENSIBLE CONDITION AND TAKEN TO THE OFFICE OF DRS. MARKHAN & CLYNE , WHERE HIS WOUNDS WERE DRESSED , THE ONE ON THE HEAD BEING STITCHED.
HIS ESCAPE WAS ALMOST MIRACULOUS .
THE TEAM , A GOOD PAIR OF GRAY MARES , WAS INJURED AND ONE OF THE ANIMALS IS DEAD . HER FOOT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE CAR WHEELS AND CUT COMPLETELY OFF. SHE WAS KNOCKED IN THE HEAD TO RELIEVE HER SUFFERING . THE OTHER ANIMAL WAS CUT IN SEVERAL PLACES BUT SUSTAINED NO PERMANENT INJURY. THE WAGON WAS COMPLETELY WRECKED .
MR. WHELCHEL TOOK HIS BED AFTER HIS WOUNDS WERE DRESSES AND IS SUFFERING INTERNALLY.