Ollie Ayers Run Down by a Little Miami Train in Columbus
And Instantly Killed, the Body Being Mangled Almost Beyond Recognition — The Remains Brought Here for Interment
The sad news was received in this city that Ollie Ayers, the twelve year old son of Mrs. Mary Ayers, of Columbus, had been run down by a Little Miami train in that city yesterday, and instantly killed. The particulars of the terrible affair, ar [sic] related in the State Journal of this morning, are as follows:
“The Little Miami train arriving from Cincinnati about noon yesterday, ran over a twelve-year old boy at the Park street crossing, horribly mangling his legs and lower body. As soon as possible the train was stopped and he was picked up insensible, and a telephone message sent to Dr. Hamilton’s office. When Drs. J.W. and Charles Hamilton arrived on the scene they saw at once that the boy’s life could not be save and as no one present knew the unfortunate, he was removed by patrol No. 1 to the patrol house nearby. There he was identified as Ollie Ayers, the son of a widow living in the Mithoff block on High street. The patrol removed him to his home, accompanied by the Drs. Hamilton, who broke the sad news to the mother and did everything in their power for the suffering boy. But in spite of their efforts he died shortly before two o’clock.
It seems the boy was playing at marbles with another boy named Dannie Stimson, and the two started across the tracks just in time for Ayers, who was in the rear, to be caught by the incoming train. One foot was almost cut off at the ankle and his body was almost severed where the wheels ran across his hips, causing his blood to be spilled on the ground in a great pool.
The other little boy was Dannie Stimson, whose home is at 334 Park street. His story is to the effect they heard the approaching train and for some unexplainable reason decided to get across the tracks ahead of the train. He had his marbles in his hand and ran at once, but his playmate stopped to gather his from the ground before starting across, and it was this delay which cost his life.
Engineer Gardner stated to a reporter the train was running about eight miles an hour and the bell was ringing for the crossing at Park street. Just as the crossing was reached he saw a small boy bound across the track from south to north, and closely followed by another small boy. The last boy did not succeed in getting across, but disappeared under the engine. The train was stopped as quickly as possible and the boy was found on one side of the track under the second or third car back of the engine apparently dead. The engineer did not see the boys until almost upon them and did not think they saw the train on account of the presence of a boxcar standing on the sidetrack at that point.
Frank Davis, who lives on Front street near the bridge, was sitting on a rear fence and saw the whole affair. He said the boys were playing at marbles near a lumber pile on Park street just north of the track and opposite Rarig’s foundry. When the train was near they started across the track in a southerly direction. One of them was struck by the engine and knocked ahead and upward seemingly as high as the headlight. He seemed to hang in the air a moment with arms extended as though he had jumped off a spring board. The next instant he fell to the track and was rolled along under the wheels probably a hundred feet until the train was stopped, when he rolled out to one side.”
Ollie Ayers was a son of Charles and Mary Ayers. The boy’s father was well known in Newark, having been an employee of the Pan Handle RR Co., at this point for many years. He removed to Columbus some years since, where he worked in the Pan Handle yards for several years. His health failing, however, he returned to Newark, where he died shortly after. The mother, who remained in Columbus, being unable to provide for the large family, took charge of Ollie, while the other children were cared for by relatives in this city. Cora, aged 13, and Charles, aged 16, were put in charge of their grand-mother, Mrs. Eliza Ann Ayers, of 24 South Fourth street, and Eugene was cared for by Mrs. Ida Graff, who resides on Sixth street. The remains were brought here this afternoon and taken to the residence of Mrs. Graff on Sixth street, from which place the funeral will occur. The time for holding the funeral has not as yet been determined, although it is thought that it will take place Wednesday morning.
Source: Newark Daily Advocate, April 13, 1891.
Carol Ann Hilton 