At 4:20 o'clock this afternoon John Krell an aged resident of this city was killed by being dragged underneath an east-bonud [sic] freight train. The train was standing on the track and Mr. Krell attempted to crawl under between two cars, near the Farmers Union warehouse. The train started when Mr. Krell was underneath and he apparently tried to save himself by clinging to the car. One foot caught in the brake beam and the victim was dragged three or four car lengths before the train crew had learned of the trouble and the train brought to a stop. Dr. Pherrin was summoned and arrived in a few minutes, but death for Mr. Krell had been only a matter of moments after he was caught. Death was due to the victim being dragged, the unfortunate man not being run over except for one arm.
Carl Endter, coming from school, saw the accident, but too late to render any assistance other than to call to the train crew.
Mr. Krell was about eighty years old and feeble.
The sympathy of the community goes out to the family thus shockingly bereaved.
Source: Unidentified Newspaper clipping
from Leone Bailey. (K.SD.204)
Probably Aurora County Standard
September 15, 1920