Newton Decker, 28 years old and the father of three children, one of whom is only three weeks old, was killed instantly about 3:09 o-clock Saturday afternoon when he was crushed under the axle of a flat car loaded with 60 ton of rock at the loading chute switch south of the fairgrounds. Mr Decker either fell from the brake platform of the car when it struck a derail switch and one of it left the track. or he jumped and then fell in front of the car. There were no eye witnesses His body was crumpled within the crosswise space of about three and one half feet, Between a rail on the north, and wheels of the car on the south where they rested on the ties. It was lodged past removal from the axle and the brake bar.A large tractor belonging to the L. W. Hayes Construction Co., by which Mr. Decker was employed was brought and pulled the flat car backward about three feet before the body could be taken out.
Coroner Joe E. Wheeler said Mr. Decker's neck was broken and that the body was badly bruised.Fred (Dutch) Hayes and John Sullivan were working at the loading dock withDecker. Oscar Breummer, also a employee of the Hayes quarry who was not working that day was near.The men were moving loaded cars by hand away from the dock to make room for empties. Crushed stone was being shipped for road building. Moving was toward the west, and cars were being started down a very slight grade with carmovers,implements designed for that purpose. The grade made it necessary for one man to ride each car to apply the brakes. Mr. Decker mounted the first car, and Hayes the one behind."We didn't like the looks of the brake on his car and didn't trust it." said Hayes. " His car was supposed to be hooked to mine, but the dogs must not have been down, because the cars parted and his got away."
"The last I saw of him he was trying frantically to set the brake. I hollered to him that I'd be there to help him, but before I could get there he went over the derail. Nobody knows whether he jumped or was knocked off by the
jar.He was dead when I got around the end of his car. I never even took a second look."Dr W. A. Broyles was called and pronounced Mr. Decker dead.Mr. Decker had been a quarry worker here at intervals during the last 10 years, and was experienced in the work he was doing Saturday.
Survivng him are his wife, Mrs. Madeline Decker, the former Miss Madeline Burton and thier three children, Elizabeth, four years, Delbert, two years, and Donald, the
three week old baby. He also is survived by his mother Mrs Alva Decker, a sister, Mrs George Mitchell,both of Bethany, and two brothers, Roscoe Decker of Cain, Ill. and
Edward Lee Decker of Bethany.
Mr Decker's immediate family will be paid compensation insurance by the state. Employers such as the Hayes Construction Co. are re-quired to carry such insurance upon their workmen.