Gillespie, S. W. (no replies)

Nov. 17, 1881. S. W. Gillespie, brakeman, Train #88 (Jno. (John) R. Reed conductor, D. McNamara engineer), got two fingers jambed (sic) off at Franklin (Venango Co.) when coupling cars. Caught his fingers between deadwoods he says. In making previous coupling his stick got caught and hurt his finger and he threw it down. In this case he had no stick, but did not take hold of the link for the reason that he thought the cars were coming back too fast and attempted to get out. In so doing, he threw up his hand and fingers were caught between the upper edge of deadwoods. /S/ J. R. Reed, conductor.

(Source: Record of Accidents, 1865-1887 on the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, Crawford, Mercer and Venango Counties, Pa.)