Rochester Democrat and Chronicle – Thursday, September 23, 1875
Terrible Accident
A Man Torn to Pieces on the Erie Railway
| At an early hour yesterday morning one of the track hands, Charles Kenter, of the Erie railway, found, about four miles north of Henrietta station, lying alongside of the rail the leg of a man, taken off at the hip. He at once notified some of the employes of the road of the discovery, and a hand-car was procured and search instituted for the remainder of the body. A short distance from where the leg was found, a hand, taken off below the elbow, was also picked up, while about two hundred feet still further, the body was found fearfully mangled, with parts of the head, one leg, one arm and one foot gone. The remains were brought back to the station, and after it had become light the missing foot was found nearly a quarter of a mile from where the leg was discovered. Coroner Harder was summoned by telegraph and on his arrival at the scene of the catastrophe, the clothes, or what remained of them, were searched, in the pockets of which were found a watch and a wallet containing $3.25 in money. Two physicians bills, receipted, against Lorenzo Meister were also in the wallet. Ex-Supervisor Robert Martin, who happened to be at the station, stated that he was acquainted with a Meister family living in the neighborhood. It was finally ascertained that a wedding was held at the residence of the Meister family the evening previous, and that the unfortunate man had attended as one of the invited guests. His name is Lorenzo Meister, about fifty-five years of age, and lives at 18 Holland street in this city. He has a son, Frederick Meister, living in Henrietta, who was also present at the wedding and volunteered to bring his father back to the city. The old man refused, and started for the city, his hat having become lost on the breaking up of the party. It is supposed that he fell asleep on the track and the passing train passed over this body, scattering the remains along the track for a distance of a quarter of a mile. The jury rendered a verdict in accordance with the above facts, and that no one was to blame but himself. |
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