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| Typical Big Four railroad station in Indiana at a RR crossing |
On 20 October 1919, Sam Pletcher,
ignoring bystanders warning cries, believed he would beat a passenger train at
a crossing, cried out, “God, I think I it.” Unfortunately, he was wrong.
He and his two horses and two mules, who were each tied to one of the horses,
were killed at 6:35 a.m. in Elkhart, Indiana.
Sam Pletcher, who was born on 4 February 1863 in Wakarusa, Indiana, was one of 12 children, On 2 September 1883 in
Elkhart, Indiana, he married Lydia A. Salsberry (1865-1942). They would have
eight children - seven would survive to adulthood.
Sam was a teamster in the employ
of contractor G. B. Bushnell hauling materials for the construction of a new
school building. He used two wagons, and
when he was just driving back and forth from his home to the worksite, he would
use the lighter of the two wagons, leaving the heavier one (filled with
construction materials) at the worksite.
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| Typical dray rig - Google Image |
The passenger train was owned by a
railroad company known as the “Big Four.” The Big Four, operating in the
Midwest, was actually the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis
Railway and was commonly abbreviated CCC&StL. The primary routes of this
railroad were in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The railroad company, formed in 1893,
eventually became what we know today as Conrail which was acquired in 1997 by the
CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads.
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| Big Four Engine, 1920 - Google Images |
On that fateful morning, the
automatic signal bell was ringing and the engineer sounded the whistle. An
eyewitness stated, “I shouted three or four times at him to stop but he kept
coming. The engine struck the horses and mules sweeping them away and at the
same time seeming to draw Pletcher and the vehicle [wagon] with them.” Another
witness stated, “He was gasping but did not utter word. I think life was
extinct within five minutes or less. He opened his mouth twice, whether it was
to get more air or an effort to speak I cannot say.”
Pletcher had an employee by the
name of Chester Geng who was on the dray wagon with him that morning. According
to Chester, "While we are turning into Main Street we heard the automatic
bell ringing. We were standing up. Pletcher kept on going. The watchman motioned
to him to stop. He did not do so. Mr. Hoshaw was driving up to the crossing in
an automobile, also motioned for him to stop, throwing up both hands. Pletcher
said 'God, I think I can make it!' We were within 12 feet of the tracks. He hit
the horses with his whip. I jumped off. At the same instant the engine hit the
horses. I seemed to be in a fog for a minute. When I realized anything, I was
standing within 4 feet from a portion of the dray. I couldn't see anything of
Pletcher and discovered his body down the track."
Upon examination of his body, the
local coroner found the right arm fractured in a number of places, the right
leg fractured below the knee, the chest crushed, and numerous head abrasions.
The crushing of the chest was the primary cause of death.
Sam's mules were valued at $350
and his horses at $200. There was no insurance on the animals, and he did not
have accident or life insurance on himself. The Pletcher's owned their home,
but it was mortgaged. Additionally, same owned 40 acres in Cleveland Township,
outside of Elkhart, where he had previously farmed before becoming a teamster.
Sam Pletcher left behind his wife
and seven children, seven grandchildren, and six siblings. Mr. Pletcher is my adoptive mother's 2nd cousin 3x removed.
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| Image from Find A Grave website |
Note: Material for this blog came from the Elkhart (IN) Truth Evening edition, 20 Oct 1919
