The death of Joseph Pfau, son of Karl and Grace Pfau, from the Kalamazoo Gazette, Tuesday, 29 January 1907:
JOSEPH PFAU MEETS MOST TRAGIC DEATH
"Joseph E. Pfau, night yard conductor at the Michigan Central met a tragic death early Monday morning on the Y near the junction with the G. R. & I. tracks within a few feet of where Herbert Witmere met his death just a month ago today. Though no one was a witness to the accident Monday morning it is the belief of men on the scene immediately after, that young Pfau met his death as the result of suffocation.PINIONED UNDER TRUCKS OF PARLOR CAR IT IS BELIEVED HE WAS SUFFOCATED
BODY IS FREE FROM MARKS
Man Who Went Under Train After It Was Stopped Says That Pfau, the Unfortunate, Crossed His Legs and Tried to Free Himself. When the accident happened Pfau with the train crew was switching a baggage and parlor car from the Central to the G. R. & I. He turned the switch in the Y and motioned for the train to come on. It is believed that when the parlor car came near him he attempted to catch the handle of the coach and place his foot on the box on the trucks. He missed his hold and was thrown under the car between the tracks. The first trucks passed over him without difficulty but the bar on the second caught him and pinioned him to the ground face downward. He was dragged this way for several feet and when the train was brought to a stop Pfau was powerless to move. His face was buried in the snow and it is the belief of some of the men present that had they been able to free him sooner that his life might have been spared. His body when taken form under the car about 45 minutes after was very free from marks, the only signs being a few scratches on his face and chest and a bruised spot on his back where the bar pressed on him. He was still breathing.
As soon as the train was brought to a stop one of the men from the American Express company went under the coach but was unable to render any assistance. While under the coach he says that Pfau crossed his legs and dug his toes into the ground in a vain effort to free himself. When it was seen that he could not be freed jacks were secured and and the trucks of the train hoisted. Pfau lived about 15 minutes after he was taken from under the trucks.
Coroner Verhage was called and empaneled the following jury: W. C. Comstock, E. L. Goodale, J. W. Carpenter, O. M. Ellison, George Born and Frank Case. The jury will meet at the Court House Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Goodale's ambulance was called but Pfau died before it arrived. The remains were taken to the home of his father, Karl Pfau, 416 Richardson street.
Joseph E. Pfau was 27 years years of age and had been in the employ of the Michigan Central about six years.
He leaves beside his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Pfau, one brother, Charles Pfau, also one sister, Mrs. Frank E. Fisher both of this city. The funeral will be held from St. Augustine's church, Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock."
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