E. St. Louis Journal
East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois
Friday, July 29, 1932
Page 1

Ends His Life By Crawling In Engine Fire Box

Isaac H. Felty, 39, Chooses Hot Coal Bed on Locomotive for Place to Die

The charred body of a man identified as Isaac H. Felty, 39, of 3805 North Thirty-fifth-st, Fairmont City, was pulled from a locomotive firebox at the Stock Yards roundhouse of the East St. Louis Junction Railroad Company at 9 o'clock last night.

Felty, who was employed as a hostler's helper at the roundhouse, was seen to crawl into the box by a Negro hostler, whose efforts to save the man were futile.

The Negro said Felty plunged into the box head first, his hands and arms sinking into the burning coals. Felty did not lose consciousness until his legs and feet were in the box and he had turned over on his back, the Negro said.

The engine was being prepared for a night's run, officials of the company said today. It would have left the roundhouse within half an hour.

Elza Hutchinson, an ambulance driver for the Kurrus Undertaking Co., was burned slightly about the hands and arms in rescuing the body.

Felty's body was dragged from the fire pit by ropes. Hutchinson and employes of the round house worked 30 minutes before they were able to extract it.

Assistant County Coroner Dr. John C. Soucy is conducting an investigation into the death and will hold an inquest tomorrow.

Felty was the father of six children, two of whom are married. He had lived here 14 years, and for the past nine years had been employed at the Stockyards roundhouse. He is also survived by his widow, Mrs. Maude Felty.

Funeral services will be held at 8 o'clock Sunday afternoon from the residence. Burial will be made at Mt. Hope cemetery.