Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 29: An Eventful Day, 1897

On the Instil of July. IS'JIj, many local happenlnys took place to make it memorable in Madison county history. At Anderson, on that morning about !l o'clock, Benton Rose and Andrew Hayworth, two visitors to the city in the search of emplovment, were run over by a Panhanille train near tiie Tenth street station and so badly mangled that Hayworth died on the same day, after being taken to St. Mary's Hospital. Rose was badly hurt antl died at the hospital on lulv the 80th. Hayworth was a married man and had a family at Liberty, Indiana, where his relatives all resided. His family were notified and his remains were removed thither for burial after an inquest held by Coroner S. C. Sells. The two men were on tlieir way to the station to board a train for Elwood. and \vere walking on the railroad track in a beating rain storm, with an umbrella carrieil down over their faces in such manner as to obstruct their view of an approaching train that was backing toward them. James Poland, a brakeman, was on guard at the rear end of the moving train and saw the men, and realized their perilous situation, and called to them at the top of his voice and did all he could to arrest the attention of the engineer but to no purpose, as the severity of the storm prevented the victims, as well as the engineer, from hearing his cries of warning, and before his eves he was compelled to witness the horrible sight of two fellow creatures being terribly mutilated by the merciless wheels. Dr. Edward B. Chittenden was called and administered such medical assistance as was necessary, and assisted in tlieir removal to the hospital.

On the same day John Meckle, an architect, in the employ of I. D. Bosworth's planing mill, had his hand horribly mutilated by a saw, nearly causing the loss of two of his fingers.

About the same hour, Benjamin (jannaway, of North Anderson, while working at the Indiana Box Factorv, was struck bv lightning, but was not fatallv hurt. The bolt struck him on the head and ran down the left side, burning the side of his face and breast. He was rendered unconscious, anil was taken to his residence near by, where he was attended bv Dr. II. E. Jones.

At Klwood tile heavy rains caused Duck creek to be swollen to such an extent that many houses were flooded, and some moved from their foundations, and many of the newly made brick streets were washed out and much damage done to property.

\Vhite ri\er was higher than at any period since 11S84, and caused much an.xietv to the residents in "Park Place" as to the safety of their homes.

At Elwooil a man of the name of Abraham Groover, in company with some friends who were swimming in the swollen waters of Duck creek, jumped into the stream, and struck some hard substance, causing injuries frum which he came near losing his life.

On the same day a young man by the name of John Wood, of LaFayette township, was drowned in Indian creek. He was the son of William Wood, a well-known farmer of lliat locality, ami was about fifteen years old. He was in company with some neighbor boys, and when they came to the stream which had become quite high from the heavy rains, he jumped in to enjoy a swim, and sank to the bottom and never came to the surface again. His body was reco\'ered the next day, about thirty rods from where he plunged in.

Setli Wise, a bachelor, the son of .Susan Wise, li\ing about eight miles west of Anderson, on the Perkinsville roail, was found dead in a field on the farm of his mother. He was subject to epilepsy, and it is supposed he died in one of liis fits. This occurrence took place on the farm made famous in history by the residence thereon having been twice destroyed by cyclones, a full account of wiiich is elsewhere given.