Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024
                           All Rights Reserved
                        USGenNet Data Repository

        Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
===========================================================================
Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
Detroit Free Press
Sunday, 30 October 1859

         Serious Accident - A Young Man Run Over
           by a Hose-Carriage and Killed.
           
         A young man named PETER DEAN was run over by the hose-
       carriage of Fire Company No. 5 last evening, and almost
       instantly killed. The company were responding to the
       alarm of fire sounded at about eight o'clock. They were
       running down Fort street on the north sidewalk. The engine
       was ahead, and the hose-carriage, drawn by six or eight
       young men, was following it. At the intersection of Cass
       street an excavation had been made in that street for the
       purpose of paving, leaving the carriage-way of the street
       at least eighteen inches lower than the side-walk. The
       evening was dark, and the company were running at great
       speed, and consequently did not discover the excavation
       until they were just upon it. Young DEAN had hold of the
       tongue of the carriage, and as he came to the spot, not
       suspecting the nature of the ground, fell, the wheel of
       the carriage striking him with great force in the back
       of the head just over his left ear, crushing the skull
       in a fearful manner. A wound was also inflicted upon his
       temple, but how it was received is not known. He was
       immediately taken up by his companions and carried to the
       office of Dr. Gunn, which was near at hand, but before
       they had reached there he was dead.
         DEAN was a young man, but nineteen years of age. He
       was not a member of the company, but, having two brothers
       who were, and his residence being within a stone's throw
       of the engine-house, he felt privileged to run with them
       to fires, which he usually did, and generally took the
       position he had at the time of this accident, at the
       tongue of the hose carriage. He was a boy of good character,
       and highly spoken of by all who knew him. The company
       turned about immediately on the occurrence of the accident,
       and accompanied his remains to his parents' residence, on
       Griswold street near Clifford, and have assumed the re-
       sponsibility of providing for his interment. Justic Martin
       impanneled a jury of inquest last evening, who viewed the
       body, and adjourned to take the testimony in the case this
       morning at the Justice's office.
         The affair seems to have been purely accidental, and
       consequently no blame can attach to any person. Yet the
       miscreant who originated the false alarm of fire and
       occassioned the unnecessary run of the company, if he has
       any conscience, can hardly escape the conviction in his
       own mind of having committed murder. Public opinion will
       charge the casualty upon him, although he may never be
       discovered.
       
===========================================================================