http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

19 December 2021

COOGAN story appearing in "Cripple Creek Morning Times" [El Paso
County, CO] (17 SEP 1898):

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FRACTURED HIS SKULL

Brakeman Falls From a
Train

IS VERY SERIOUSLY HURT

Local Doctor did not know
the skull was broken - sewed
up the cut - stitches taken
out and the skull trephined
- he may recover.

*****
Coogan, a brakeman employed on the Midland Terminal railroad, had 
his skull badly fractured yesterday morning by falling from the top
of a freight car.  He is dangerously hurt, but may recover.

He was dropping a string of cars down from the coal chute at Gillett,
and he says that a brake chain gave way.  At any rate he let the 
cars get up a good speed, and when he struck the other cars down
the line the concussion threw him from the top of a box car.

He was picked up by his mates, and one of the local physicians
called.  Coogan did not seem very badly hurt, and the doctor sewed
up a nasty cut in his scalp without discovering that the skull was
fractured.

Later in the morning Coogan was brought to this city and Dr. Whiting
called.  The injured man still have vitality enough to walk into
the hospital, but it was quickly seen that he was badly hurt.  The
stitches were taken out and a piece of the skull three inches long
and three quarters of an inch wide was trephined out.  He is now in
the hospital, and hopes are entertained for his recovery.

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