Fatal Collision at the Commercial Street Crossing

Mike Kaschka, a boy living near the end of the Grant Street bridge in South Seattle, was fatally injured at the Commercial Street crossing of the Northern Pacific railroad at about 1:10 yesterday afternoon, being run over by switch engine No. 6. The boy worked at the Hart Lumber Company's mill and was on his way up from the works to get some tobacco at a fruit stand just north of the railroad crossing. Watchman McNaught was off, taking his lunch in a nearby restaurant, and his place was taken temporarily by George Ketcher. The latter was standing at the crossing on the north side of the track, signaling to the engine to come ahead as it approached from the north. His back was to the fruit stand out of which the boy came running, attempting to cross the track ahead of the engine. He was struck by the footboard and dragged about thirty feet, his legs being so mangled that he died about three hours later. Two of the switch crew were on the foot bar, and one of them, Switchman Trumbull, tried to reach forward and save the boy, but in vain. He was taken to Providence Hospital and put under the influence of anesthetics but only lived about three hours. The body was taken to Bonney & Stewart's undertaking rooms. The boy was 14 years old and was a son of Michael Kaschka, a laborer.