St Paul, MN Train Accident, May 1908

FALLS OVER CLIFF AND TRAIN MANGLES HIM

ST. PAUL, May 8.---Robert, the 2 year old son of Jacob Sleckenstein, 275 Cliff street, rolled down a 30-foot embankment near his home at 6 o'clock last evening and fell under a passing freight train on the St. Paul railroad tracks. Both his legs were severed at the knees and he died at the city hospital at 11:45. He was taken to the city hospital where he was attended by Coroner A. W. Miller.

The child had been playing near his home. While he was walking along the edge of the cliff he fell and before any of the children who were with him could catch him he rolled down the embankment.

While the little fellow was rolling train was going west and the boy fell under the wheels. Ten cars passed over his legs. By the time the rescuers reached the tracks and the train had been stopped the boy was lying unconscious near the tracks and the dismembered legs were cut into shreds by the wheels.

The Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN 9 May 1908
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!