While Dr. Joseph H. Baker was returning from a professional visit in Stockwell last Saturday afternoon his buggy was struck by Big Four freight engine No. 456, at the Mayflower gravel road crossing, three miles southeast of the city. The vehicle was crushed in two , the horse running down the road with the fore part, while the rear end, with Dr. Baker, was tossed into a ditch ten feet away. The train consisted of only the engine and caboose, and was running about twenty miles an hour. The trainmen saw the form of the vehicle's occupant stretched on the ground as they stopped the engine, and when they had pulled back to the crossing one glance told them that he was dying. Dr. Baker's skull was fractured, and internal injuries were also apparent. In an unconscious condition he was placed in the caboose and brought to Lafayette, being taken to his home, No. 20 South Sixth street. The accident occurred a few minutes before four o'clock, and the injured man died, in delirium, at 5:15, Drs. Beasley, Webster, Peters and Youkey being present at the time. Hid death is attributed to the fracture of the skill.
It is said that the doctor was so heavily muffled in order to keep off the chilling blasts that he could not hear the approaching train until it was to late. The side curtains were down to further protect the occupant and for that reason it was impossible to see the coming danger at this decidedly ugly crossing. The vehicle was half way across the track when struck, the horse escaping without injury. Engineer Edward Tripp had charge of the engine and Conductor Thomas Splann was in the caboose. They say they whistled and that every effort was made to prevent the catastrophe. About a year ago Dr. Baker experienced an escape from death at exactly the same place, one of the closest calls imaginable. The fatality of Saturday was in every respect similar to the event of a year ago, except in result.
Dr. Joseph H. Baker was 39 years old, and was beyond a doubt one of the brightest, most promising men in the county. As a physician and a specialist in gynecology he had won a name unsurpassed in this community, and his future was certainly looked upon with greater favor than any man's here, simply because of the success he had already attained in his special work. About eighteen months ago he removed to this city from his old home in Stockwell, the change being necessary on account of health. His health would not permit his attending to the very large country practice he had acquired. City work proved more congenial and more remunerative. He was a son of the late Dr. Moses Baker, of Stockwell, one of the most honored and esteemed of the county's former citizens, and leaves a wife and one son, 9 years of age. He married Miss Belle Miller, of Thorntown, in 1881. As a husband and father he was loving, kind and tender. The sorrow in his little home has been intense, and hearts are breaking over the dreadful ending of this bright young life. He was president of the Tippecanoe Medical Society, a member of the American, Indiana, and the Mississippi Valley Medical Associations. Trinity church was his home in Christianity.
The mother of Dr. Baker lives in West Lafayette. Miss Bessie Baker, one of his sisters, lives in Philadelphia, and will be here to-day. His other sisters are Mrs. J. H. Millis, of Stockwell, Mrs. J. L. Caldwell, Misses Anna and Florence Baker. The Tippecanoe Medical Society will meet at the council chamber this evening at 7:30 o'clock to take action on the death of its president.
H. A. Wyant, who resides on the gravel road just south of the crossing, is the only man aside from the engine crew who saw the accident. He saw the whole thing, and says positively that the engineer did not whistle and did not ring his bell until just as he struck the vehicle. Dr. Baker passed his house a moment or so before, and he had a sort of felling that something was to happen, so he walked to the corner of the yard. He saw the engine strike the buggy and tear it all to pieces like paper. It flew in every direction, the occupant being hurled at least twenty feet, alongside the track. The horse ran south, instead of north, after the caboose had passed. Mr. . Wyant took charge of the animal afterwards and placed him in his barn, but slightly scratched. Within a minute after the accident, Mr. . Wyant had reached the doctor's prostrate form. He called to him, but there was no answer. With the trainmen's assistance the victim was placed in the caboose. This only witness then collected the medicine bottles, pieces of wood, etc., and took them into his house. The inquest begins this afternoon, and Mr. . Wyant will be an important witness as engineer Tripp asserts he whistled for the crossing. The funeral will probably occur Wednesday forenoon at 10:30 o'clock at the family residence, No. 20, 6th street. The remains will be interred at Stockwell.
It is said that the doctor was so heavily muffled in order to keep off the chilling blasts that he could not hear the approaching train until it was to late. The side curtains were down to further protect the occupant and for that reason it was impossible to see the coming danger at this decidedly ugly crossing. The vehicle was half way across the track when struck, the horse escaping without injury. Engineer Edward Tripp had charge of the engine and Conductor Thomas Splann was in the caboose. They say they whistled and that every effort was made to prevent the catastrophe. About a year ago Dr. Baker experienced an escape from death at exactly the same place, one of the closest calls imaginable. The fatality of Saturday was in every respect similar to the event of a year ago, except in result.
Dr. Joseph H. Baker was 39 years old, and was beyond a doubt one of the brightest, most promising men in the county. As a physician and a specialist in gynecology he had won a name unsurpassed in this community, and his future was certainly looked upon with greater favor than any man's here, simply because of the success he had already attained in his special work. About eighteen months ago he removed to this city from his old home in Stockwell, the change being necessary on account of health. His health would not permit his attending to the very large country practice he had acquired. City work proved more congenial and more remunerative. He was a son of the late Dr. Moses Baker, of Stockwell, one of the most honored and esteemed of the county's former citizens, and leaves a wife and one son, 9 years of age. He married Miss Belle Miller, of Thorntown, in 1881. As a husband and father he was loving, kind and tender. The sorrow in his little home has been intense, and hearts are breaking over the dreadful ending of this bright young life. He was president of the Tippecanoe Medical Society, a member of the American, Indiana, and the Mississippi Valley Medical Associations. Trinity church was his home in Christianity.
The mother of Dr. Baker lives in West Lafayette. Miss Bessie Baker, one of his sisters, lives in Philadelphia, and will be here to-day. His other sisters are Mrs. J. H. Millis, of Stockwell, Mrs. J. L. Caldwell, Misses Anna and Florence Baker. The Tippecanoe Medical Society will meet at the council chamber this evening at 7:30 o'clock to take action on the death of its president.
H. A. Wyant, who resides on the gravel road just south of the crossing, is the only man aside from the engine crew who saw the accident. He saw the whole thing, and says positively that the engineer did not whistle and did not ring his bell until just as he struck the vehicle. Dr. Baker passed his house a moment or so before, and he had a sort of felling that something was to happen, so he walked to the corner of the yard. He saw the engine strike the buggy and tear it all to pieces like paper. It flew in every direction, the occupant being hurled at least twenty feet, alongside the track. The horse ran south, instead of north, after the caboose had passed. Mr. . Wyant took charge of the animal afterwards and placed him in his barn, but slightly scratched. Within a minute after the accident, Mr. . Wyant had reached the doctor's prostrate form. He called to him, but there was no answer. With the trainmen's assistance the victim was placed in the caboose. This only witness then collected the medicine bottles, pieces of wood, etc., and took them into his house. The inquest begins this afternoon, and Mr. . Wyant will be an important witness as engineer Tripp asserts he whistled for the crossing. The funeral will probably occur Wednesday forenoon at 10:30 o'clock at the family residence, No. 20, 6th street. The remains will be interred at Stockwell.
While Dr. Joseph H. Baker was returning from a professional visit in Stockwell last Saturday afternoon his buggy was struck by Big Four freight engine No. 456, at the Mayflower gravel road crossing, three miles southeast of the city. The vehicle was crushed in two , the horse running down the road with the fore part, while the rear end, with Dr. Baker, was tossed into a ditch ten feet away. The train consisted of only the engine and caboose, and was running about twenty miles an hour. The trainmen saw the form of the vehicle's occupant stretched on the ground as they stopped the engine, and when they had pulled back to the crossing one glance told them that he was dying. Dr. Baker's skull was fractured, and internal injuries were also apparent. In an unconscious condition he was placed in the caboose and brought to Lafayette, being taken to his home, No. 20 South Sixth street. The accident occurred a few minutes before four o'clock, and the injured man died, in delirium, at 5:15, Drs. Beasley, Webster, Peters and Youkey being present at the time. Hid death is attributed to the fracture of the skill.
It is said that the doctor was so heavily muffled in order to keep off the chilling blasts that he could not hear the approaching train until it was to late. The side curtains were down to further protect the occupant and for that reason it was impossible to see the coming danger at this decidedly ugly crossing. The vehicle was half way across the track when struck, the horse escaping without injury. Engineer Edward Tripp had charge of the engine and Conductor Thomas Splann was in the caboose. They say they whistled and that every effort was made to prevent the catastrophe. About a year ago Dr. Baker experienced an escape from death at exactly the same place, one of the closest calls imaginable. The fatality of Saturday was in every respect similar to the event of a year ago, except in result.
Dr. Joseph H. Baker was 39 years old, and was beyond a doubt one of the brightest, most promising men in the county. As a physician and a specialist in gynecology he had won a name unsurpassed in this community, and his future was certainly looked upon with greater favor than any man's here, simply because of the success he had already attained in his special work. About eighteen months ago he removed to this city from his old home in Stockwell, the change being necessary on account of health. His health would not permit his attending to the very large country practice he had acquired. City work proved more congenial and more remunerative. He was a son of the late Dr. Moses Baker, of Stockwell, one of the most honored and esteemed of the county's former citizens, and leaves a wife and one son, 9 years of age. He married Miss Belle Miller, of Thorntown, in 1881. As a husband and father he was loving, kind and tender. The sorrow in his little home has been intense, and hearts are breaking over the dreadful ending of this bright young life. He was president of the Tippecanoe Medical Society, a member of the American, Indiana, and the Mississippi Valley Medical Associations. Trinity church was his home in Christianity.
The mother of Dr. Baker lives in West Lafayette. Miss Bessie Baker, one of his sisters, lives in Philadelphia, and will be here to-day. His other sisters are Mrs. J. H. Millis, of Stockwell, Mrs. J. L. Caldwell, Misses Anna and Florence Baker. The Tippecanoe Medical Society will meet at the council chamber this evening at 7:30 o'clock to take action on the death of its president.
H. A. Wyant, who resides on the gravel road just south of the crossing, is the only man aside from the engine crew who saw the accident. He saw the whole thing, and says positively that the engineer did not whistle and did not ring his bell until just as he struck the vehicle. Dr. Baker passed his house a moment or so before, and he had a sort of felling that something was to happen, so he walked to the corner of the yard. He saw the engine strike the buggy and tear it all to pieces like paper. It flew in every direction, the occupant being hurled at least twenty feet, alongside the track. The horse ran south, instead of north, after the caboose had passed. Mr. . Wyant took charge of the animal afterwards and placed him in his barn, but slightly scratched. Within a minute after the accident, Mr. . Wyant had reached the doctor's prostrate form. He called to him, but there was no answer. With the trainmen's assistance the victim was placed in the caboose. This only witness then collected the medicine bottles, pieces of wood, etc., and took them into his house. The inquest begins this afternoon, and Mr. . Wyant will be an important witness as engineer Tripp asserts he whistled for the crossing. The funeral will probably occur Wednesday forenoon at 10:30 o'clock at the family residence, No. 20, 6th street. The remains will be interred at Stockwell.
It is said that the doctor was so heavily muffled in order to keep off the chilling blasts that he could not hear the approaching train until it was to late. The side curtains were down to further protect the occupant and for that reason it was impossible to see the coming danger at this decidedly ugly crossing. The vehicle was half way across the track when struck, the horse escaping without injury. Engineer Edward Tripp had charge of the engine and Conductor Thomas Splann was in the caboose. They say they whistled and that every effort was made to prevent the catastrophe. About a year ago Dr. Baker experienced an escape from death at exactly the same place, one of the closest calls imaginable. The fatality of Saturday was in every respect similar to the event of a year ago, except in result.
Dr. Joseph H. Baker was 39 years old, and was beyond a doubt one of the brightest, most promising men in the county. As a physician and a specialist in gynecology he had won a name unsurpassed in this community, and his future was certainly looked upon with greater favor than any man's here, simply because of the success he had already attained in his special work. About eighteen months ago he removed to this city from his old home in Stockwell, the change being necessary on account of health. His health would not permit his attending to the very large country practice he had acquired. City work proved more congenial and more remunerative. He was a son of the late Dr. Moses Baker, of Stockwell, one of the most honored and esteemed of the county's former citizens, and leaves a wife and one son, 9 years of age. He married Miss Belle Miller, of Thorntown, in 1881. As a husband and father he was loving, kind and tender. The sorrow in his little home has been intense, and hearts are breaking over the dreadful ending of this bright young life. He was president of the Tippecanoe Medical Society, a member of the American, Indiana, and the Mississippi Valley Medical Associations. Trinity church was his home in Christianity.
The mother of Dr. Baker lives in West Lafayette. Miss Bessie Baker, one of his sisters, lives in Philadelphia, and will be here to-day. His other sisters are Mrs. J. H. Millis, of Stockwell, Mrs. J. L. Caldwell, Misses Anna and Florence Baker. The Tippecanoe Medical Society will meet at the council chamber this evening at 7:30 o'clock to take action on the death of its president.
H. A. Wyant, who resides on the gravel road just south of the crossing, is the only man aside from the engine crew who saw the accident. He saw the whole thing, and says positively that the engineer did not whistle and did not ring his bell until just as he struck the vehicle. Dr. Baker passed his house a moment or so before, and he had a sort of felling that something was to happen, so he walked to the corner of the yard. He saw the engine strike the buggy and tear it all to pieces like paper. It flew in every direction, the occupant being hurled at least twenty feet, alongside the track. The horse ran south, instead of north, after the caboose had passed. Mr. . Wyant took charge of the animal afterwards and placed him in his barn, but slightly scratched. Within a minute after the accident, Mr. . Wyant had reached the doctor's prostrate form. He called to him, but there was no answer. With the trainmen's assistance the victim was placed in the caboose. This only witness then collected the medicine bottles, pieces of wood, etc., and took them into his house. The inquest begins this afternoon, and Mr. . Wyant will be an important witness as engineer Tripp asserts he whistled for the crossing. The funeral will probably occur Wednesday forenoon at 10:30 o'clock at the family residence, No. 20, 6th street. The remains will be interred at Stockwell.
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