N&W in 1908--Another fatality

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Wed Dec 3 21:46:03 EST 2008


Bluefield Daily Telegraph
November 14, 1908

KILLED AT THACKER
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Carey Reynolds, a brakeman, aged 33, was instantly killed at Thacker yesterday. It appears that he had uncoupled a train and after forgetting to uncouple the air had walked back between the cars to separate them when the cars came together and he was crushed to death instantly. The accident should not have occurred and the railroad men last night said Carey had violated the book of rules which specifically state what must be done in such a case. It could not be learned last night whether the man was married or not. His home is at Williamson. There were two men standing by when the tragedy was enacted and the gruesome accident unnerved them to such an extent that they were hardly able to work for several hours.
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[It doesn't seem likely that he had to go between the cars to separate the air hoses--they would have separated as the cars pulled apart. More likely he failed to close an angle cock and went back between the cars to close it.]

Gordon Hamilton
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