Pioneer Dies in Tragic Railway Accident near Crocker
A longtime Tacoma resident meets a sudden, grisly death under a freight train, leaving behind a mystery about his presence on the tracks.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Donald McLelan, a resident of Tacoma for twenty years and a recognized pioneer, was struck by a freight train near Crocker at 3 a. m. and died shortly after being transported to South Prairie. The train crew discovered the man after hearing a scream, finding him in agony with both legs severed. Despite his advanced years, McLelan was known for his energy. The circumstances of his death remain a mystery, as he had left Tacoma in the afternoon to visit a logging camp, providing no explanation for why he was near the tracks at that hour. Deputy Coroner Mellinger is investigating.
“The train crew said the first they knew of the accident they heard a scream under the train.”
The death of a pioneer figure in such a sudden, industrial manner serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the expanding rail networks that defined 1903 Washington. It reflects the period's lack of safety protocols, which contrasts sharply with today's rigid railway corridor security.
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