Multnomah County OR Archives Obituaries.....Koch, August September 16, 1904
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Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com May 29, 2008, 10:43 am

Morning Oregonian September 17,1904
Meets Death In A Fog
August Koch Is Killed By A TRain
Restaurant Man,Just Starting On HIs Vacation,Takes A Fatal Walk On Southern 
Pacific Track.
August Koch,one of the proprietors of the Vienna Cafe on Morrison street,was 
killed by a Southern Pacific passenger train at First and Curry streets early 
yesterday morning.The dense shroud of smoke and fog obscured an approaching 
train from his view as he passed along the tracks and at the same time 
prevented the engine crew from noticing him until it was too late o stop the 
big locomtive.His neck was broken by the impact and he sustained other 
injuries,which proved fatal an hour after the accident occurred.
It was the tragic end of Koch's vacation.he had left his home at 861 First 
street shortly before 8 o'clock,to arrange some business previous to taking a 
train fro Scappoose,where he was to meet his wife and child,who are visiting 
there. He had intended spending a pleasnat vacation before returning to the 
restaurant.
Nearing Curry and First street,he left the sidewalk and took to the railroad 
track of the West Side line of the Southenr Pacific.His idea must have been to 
save time,as the railroad makes a slight cut at this point.
Out of the fog and smoke the train shot a few minutes ater.The pilot caught 
him fairly and huried his body through space for at least 30 feet. The train 
was quickly brought to a standstill and the crew rushed to the prostrate and 
bleeding figure.Life appeared to be extinct,and it was not unitl after the 
body was carried to the home of Rev. G.L.Tufts,near by,that it was found that 
Koch still lived.Sheriff Wood,who had been among the passengers on the train 
and who had helped carry the body to the house,at once had hurry calls sent 
for doctors. Drs. F.M.Taylor, H.I.Keeney and R.J.Marsh responded promptly,but 
they found the injured man to be beyond human aid. The faint respiration 
ceased altogether in an hour and a quarter.
Koch was 31 years of age,and had lived here for several years.His wife was 
notified of the fatal accident shortly after it occurred. The message was a 
pathetic substitute to the visit she had expected. She was not able to return 
until last evening's train.
An inquest into the death of Koch was conducted by Cornoer Finley last 
night,and the verdict of the jury was that deceased came to his death 
accidentally.The evidence wnt to show that no blmae coudl be attached to the 
train crew. 

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