LAKE SHORE TRAGEDY

"THE LIMITED" PLOW ITS WAY THROUGH A CROWD OF MEN AT GARY.

Three are Killed an Two Others are Seriously Injured -- Jumped in Front of Train.

Three men were killed and two other seriously injured when the Lake Shore Limited train plowed through a crowd of men at Gary Saturday night.

The men were waiting for the 5:45 train to return to Chicago. Their train was a few minutes late and as it drew in the "Limited" dashed by in an opposite direction.

Some one in the crowd cried "Look out!" Thinking they were in danger from the west bound train five men jumped to the other track and were struck by the east bound flyer.

The Dead.

FORTNEY, JOSEPH N., Chicago, railroad man for twenty-eight years; worked for Lake Shore and formerly was conductor on the Rock Island; compound fracture of the skull; died after being carried into depot.

GERSITY, SAMUEL A., Chicago, secretary of the Holybush Distilling Company, struck by engine and mangled beneath wheels.

STEIN, ALBERT, laborer, South Chicago; compound fracture of skull; both legs broken; died on operating table at Mercy hospital.

The Injured.

HULTINE, C. J., engineer for Illinois Improvement and Ballast company; compound fracture of skull; condition [sic, condition] serious.

SCHWARTZ, JOHN, engineer of the Great Lakes Dredging and Dock company; skull fractured, lacerated about head and body; recovery doubtful.

The accident occured [sic] in front of the railway station near the point where the railroad's double tracks cross Broadway, Gary's principal thoroughfare. A large crowd of men, many of them laborers employed in construction work, was waiting for the west bound train. The men who were killed or injured had left the platform and were standing between the tracks. The engine of the train they expected to board was close to them, and its headlight, it is believed, blinded them to the sight of the other train.

Jump in Front of Fast Train.

If it had not been for the cry of warning they might have escaped, as they had room to stand between the tracks while the trains were passing. But hearing, the cry of warning, all five jumped upon the track ahead of the flyer.

The injured were carried into the express office of the station, where Drs. Templin and Walsh attended them. The dead and wounded were taken to Chicago on the mail train which arrives in that city at 8:30 in the evening.

Source: The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; October 10, 1907; Volume 24, Number 28, Page 1, Column 5.