On This Day: Kirchner succumbs to railroad injury

Accidents happened quite frequently on the railroads it seems. Some were minor injuries. Others resulted in loss limbs. And occasionally someone, like John Kirchner, died from his injuries.

Kirchner was a workman employed by Keller & Reilley. He worked on the new branch of the Pennsylvania railroad just north of Lancaster City.

A news article notes he was struck on Saturday, 29 October 1881 by the railroad cars near the Little Conestoga bridge. His forehead was crushed in and face was badly lacerated. He was almost unconscious when he was found.

He was carried home where he lapsed into a delirious state and then finally unconsciousness took hold. On This Day (Monday, 31 October 1881) Kirchner died.

Source

Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. (Lancaster, PA), 31 October 1881. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.

On This Day is a prompt to further explore historical events.

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