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- from "The Mt. Clemens Press", 6 Dec 1888
Fred E. Baker, a former resident of Utica, was buried at that village Monday. Young Baker was killed Nov. 22d, while working on the railroad in Connecticut.
- from "The New Haven Register", 21 Nov 1888 (genealogybank.com)
THE BRAKEMAN KILLER.
THIS TIME A WEST HAVEN BRIDGE.
The Victim Had Been Breaking on the Road Only One Week - The Accident Happens in Daylight and at the Point Where There Was No Curve to Hide the Bridge.
Just one week ago to-day Fred E. Baker went breading on a freight train of the New York Road. This morning he was removed to the hospital with a skull crushed and with so little vitality left that the surgeons, after looking at the wounds, said he bad but few hours to live. Baker was returning to New Haven on Conductor L.A. Morey's freight train that arrived in this city between 8 and 9 o'clock this morning. He was seen on the roof of a box car about the time that the train was approaching the west Haven station. When next the crew of the train looked toward that particular car Baker could not be seen. The train had then passed under the West Haven bridge. An investigation as to why he was not visible led to the discovery of the brakeman lying unconscious on the top of the car. It was stated to-day that he was very near the edge of the car roof when found, and that the train could not have proceeded much further before its motion would have jolted Baker from the car. There was a fearful gash in the man's forehead and blood covered his face. At the hospital it was said at noon to-day the man was only just alive. He recovered consciousness long enough to five his name to the hospital officials, to say that his age was about 27 and that his father was a resident of Indianapolis. A letter was found in his pocket signed "Alice M. Somers." This person is supposed to be his sister. It was written from Romeo, Mich., on November 1. Baker had worked on western roads before he came to New Haven. The railroad men regard the fatality as being somewhat singular. If it had occurred in the night time, when darkness hides these bridges from the view of brakemen, there would not be so much surprise to hear that he had been struck by the bridge. But it was broad daylight, and there is no curve in the route at this point to shut our the bridge from view when Baker's head came into collision with it. in all probability Baker's mind for the moment was diverted form the danger he was approaching and he was thinking of something else, forgetting the while that he was on top of the box car. Baker was still alive at 3 o'clock, but it was stated the hospital that he was likely to die at any moment.
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1860 - 1888 (~ 28 years)
Palmer Nicholas Baker, b. 29 Jul 1816, Saratoga Co, NY 