RE: Alfred SLUSHER (poss named Henry Alfred SLUSHER aka "Shillaber"? SLUSHER) (1807-1875), see URL: http://community-2.webtv.net/oslushGen2/AlfredSLUSHER/ The following are transcripts of newpaper articles regarding the 7 Sep 1875 train/buggy accident in Paxton, Ford County, Illinois, which subsequently took the life of my GGGGFather, Alfred SLUSHER, on 10 Sep 1875: ____________________________________________ Published "Paxton Record", Paxton, Ford County, Illinois, on Thursday, Sep. 9, 1875, Page 3, Column 3: FATAL ACCIDENT The 1:15 train on Tuesday last collided at the Ottawa Street crossing with a covered buggy containing two elderly gentlemen, Mr. S. H. Downs and Alfred Slusher, with a fatal result to the latter, for, though he is not yet dead, his physician pronounces his injuries necessarily fatal. The manner of the accident can be told in a few words. Just above the street crossing is a deep cut in which a train is invisable to parties approaching from the east and a strong south wind on this occasion prevented the sound of the approaching train from reaching the occupants of the carriage and they did not discover the approaching train until the horse was across and the buggy upon the track. The horse, upon seeing the train, became terrified and stopped stone still, shrinking back on his haunches in fright. There was but a second for thought and action. Both attempted to spring out and Mr. D. succeeded but his escape was so narrow that the engine struck his foot and threw him upon the ground, bruising him severely but not injuring him masterially, though yesterday he was feeling much the worse for the adventure. Not so fortunate was his companion, who was carried with the buggy against the fence and thrown some twenty-five or thirty feet from the crossing, alighting on his right on the ends of the ties. His visible injuries were confined to severe contusions ony, but an examination revealed the fact that his right shoulder blade was broken, 4 ribs on his right side fractured, and evidently the bones had punctured his right lung as he soon commenced vomiting blood. The Train was stopped and the conductor and empoyees rendered all the aid possible in caring for the injured man, leaving orders as they left that everything shold be done for which the company would pay. Dr. J. D. Wylie of this city was on the train and gave Mr. S. all the relief possible. As soon as it could be done, he was removed to his residence on College Hill but soon became insensible in which condition he remained up to 2:00 yesterday, at which hour we visited him. While in the instance the engineer did everything he could to avert the accident, after discovering the danger, and the most humane care was bestowed upon the injured man by the employee, it still remains a fact that this crossing, though one much used, is dangerous for the reasons above given and train men should be required to run slowly while passing this point, and signal by whistle as well as by bell, their approach, and the copany should replace the sign which has been down a long time. Had these precautions been observed, this accident in all probability woud heve been avoided. P.S. Mr. Slusher was still alive at noon today and apparenty breathing easier. It is impossible, however, that he can recover. ____________________________________________ Published "Paxton Record", Paxton, Ford County, Illinois, Thursday, Sep 9, 1875, Page 3, Column 2: DASTERDLY - The pockets of Mr. Slusher, who was fatally injured by the train on Tuesday last, were evidently picked during the excitement after the accident. He was peculiar in that he always carried his money about his person, a small amount for expenses in one purse, and the remainder in another. These he had with him when he left home but they were missing when he was taken back. His knife, keys and other trinkets, much more likely to fall out, were still in his pockets. It seems past belief that such a thing could be true, yet no other conclusion can be arrived at, under the circumstances. The amount he had is not known but it was probably between $50 and $100. ____________________________________________ Published "Gibson City Courier", Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, Saturday, 11 Sep., 1875: Paxton Lett. //?-blurred// Yesterday, express train No. 1, at 1:15 p.m. collided with the buggy of Mr. Sam- uel Downs, of this place, at the Goodrich crossing at south end of town, completely demolishing the buggy and throwing Mr. D. and an old gentleman name of Shil- laber Slusher, who was riding with Mr. D., violently to the ground. Mr. Downs was not injured, with the exception of a few slight bruises, and the //unreadble// incident to the mishap; but Mr. Slusher was less for- tunate, his breast bone and ribs on one side being crushed. He is just alive this morning, and no hopes are entertained of his recovery. They had just //unreadable// the track in safety, but the engineer blew his whis- tle as a warning, which frightened the horse and caused it to back onto the track. No investigatinb as yet. T. BECK Sept. 8, 1875 COMMENT: It is my understanding that the "Gibson City Courier" was a weekly publication, published only on Saturdays. ____________________________________________ Published "Gibson City Courier", Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, Saturday, 18 Sep., 1875: --Henry A. Slusher, who was run over by the cars at Paxton last week, died from the effects of his injuries on Friday night. ____________________________________________ COMMENTS: Alfred SLUSHER died on Friday, 10 Sep 1875, apparently at his home on College Hill, in/near Paxton, Ford County, Illinois. His widow (2nd wife), Mary Jane (nee BROOKS) SLUSHER, rcvd a payment of $400.00 from the "I.C.R.R." (blvd to be the Illinois Central Rail Road?) in Dec 1875 from a suit Mary had made against the Rail Road regarding her husband's death. STILL SEEKING HIS OBITUARY and PLACE OF HIS BURIAL (in Ford County, Illinois?). email: ojfwb@webtv.net