Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
George F. Snell (1873-1891) was a scenic artist at Sosman & Landis Scene Painting Studio. Snell’s artistic career was a short one, ending tragically on November 19, 1891 after suffering severe injuries from a cable car accident. He was barely nineteen-years old.
Snell grew up in Chicago, one of four children born to Frederick B. Snell (1847- 1898) and Catherine “Kate” Kearne (b. 1846-1892). Although his grandfather worked as a Chicago blacksmith, George’s father and uncles entered the painting profession. His parents met and married in Chicago in 1868. By 1869, Frederick was listed as a painter in the Chicago Directory, living with his wife, widowed mother, and older brother Julian. The Snell family was living at 121 ½ Superior Street. In 1870, the couple celebrated the birth of their first son, Richard L. Snell. George was born three years later in 1873, with a sister following in 1878. It does not appear that his sister was named, or lived long after birth. George’s youngest brother, William J. Snell, arrived a decade later in 1882.
It was George’s father, Frederick B. Snell, who first entered the Chicago painting scene, well before any other member of the family. However, it remains unclear if he was working as a scenic artist, decorative painter, or both, at the time. George’s uncle, Julian Otis Snell, followed his younger brother into the painting profession after attempting an early career as a fish monger. Trading the scent of fish for animal hide glue must have been a delightful perk for the entire family. In time, George’s older brother Richard L. Snell, and Richard’s son, George, also entered the painting profession. Like his namesake, the second George F. Snell became a scenic artist.
The Snell family’s association with Sosman & Landis first came onto my radar in a random search a few years back. I was exploring various Sosman & Landis projects during the early 1890s. The tragic nature of the story prompted me to jot down the citation, noting “another S&L employee.” Here is the story of George F. Snell, as reported in newspaper accounts at the time.
On November 20, 1891, the “Chicago Tribune” reported:
“Cable Collision in Tunnel. One Man Loses a Leg and Another a Thumb – Fatal Accidents. The grip of a Lincoln avenue train broke in the La Salle street tunnel when traffic was heavy Thursday night and collided with a Clybourne avenue train. George Snell, living at 115 Locust street, who was standing on the coupling bar, was jammed between the dash boards and had his right leg crushed. His limb was amputated at the Alexian Brothers’ hospital. He is a scenic artist employed by Sosman & Landis, 236 South Clinton street. Fifteen minutes after the accident, a thumb was found in the tunnel. It belonged to Ernest Braumer of 17 East Division street, who was knocked down by another train” (page 3). The incident made regional news and was republished in the “Muscatine News-Tribune” in Iowa, “The Times Herald” of Port Huron, Michigan and “The Waukesha Daily Freeman” in Wisconsin.
A few days later on November 23, 1891, the “Chicago Tribune” reported “George Snell Dies from His Hurts.” The article continued, “Fatal Result of a Cable-Train Collision in LaSalle Street Tunnel. George Snell, No. 115 Locust street, who was badly crushed in a cable-train collision in LaSalle street tunnel Thursday night, dies at the Alexian Brothers’ Hospital Saturday night. At the time of the accident, he was standing on the coupler of a Clybourn avenue trailer, when a Lincoln avenue grip broke loose, and rushing down the incline, crashed into a trailer and crushed Mr. Snell’s right leg. He was removed to the hospital, where his leg was amputated.”
The ensuing investigation by the coroner kept this tragedy in the headlines for weeks. On November 25, 1891, the “Inter Ocean” announcing, “Progressing Slowly, but little is shed on the LaSalle Street Tunnel.” Detailed information pertaining to those involved with the accident was brought to light: “John M. Roach, Superintendent of the North Side Cable line, William B. Keep, attorney for the road, and his assistant, John R. Elley, were witnesses yesterday before the Coroner’s jury which is inquiring into the death of George Snell. Mr. Roach testified that in the wreck, in which young Snell met his death, were the cars, conductors, and gripmen here named: Lincoln avenue grip car No. 409, H. Slack, conductor and M. Galvin gripman; car No. 281, P. D. Probert, conductor; grip car No. 771, James McCurdy, conductor and D. Myers, gripman; car No. 471, E. E. Leach, conductor, and H. Menze, gripman; car No. 211, J. O’Hearn, conductor, and car No. 192, E. L. Houghton, conductor. He said that he thought that car No. 281 was smashed in the wreck. Messrs. Keep and Elley refused to testify. They alleged that all they knew of the cases had been told to them by their clients, whom they could not betray. Mr. Keep also intimated that the jury had its verdict already before the witness had to be examined. There being no other witnesses before the jury, an adjournment was taken until 9 o’clock this morning to give time to subpoena the witnesses named by Superintendent Roach” (page 5).
On November 26, 1891, the “Chicago Tribune” reported, “After two full hours deliberation over the evidence, the Coroner’s jury in the Snell inquest returned the following verdict late yesterday afternoon.”
The article headline announced:
“WHERE BLAME LIES.
Verdict of the Coroner’s Jury in the Snell Case.
CENSURE FOR THE ROAD.
North Side Cable Company Held to Be Responsible.
SUGGESTIONS FOR ALDERMEN.
Many Recommendations Made to the City Council.
EVIDENCE HEARD AT THE INQUEST.“
Summarizing the Coroner’s Jury outcome, the article reported, “The deceased came to his death at the Alexian Brother’s Hospital Nov. 21 from shock and hemorrhage caused by injuries received by being run over by grip-car No. 409, belonging to the North Chicago Street railway company, in the LaSalle street tunnel Nov. 21, 1891.
We, the jury, find the evidence that deceased was knocked over the dashboard of trailer car No. 281, said trailer-car being attached to grip No. 409. The cause of deceased being knocked over the dashboard was due to the brakes and grips of some of the cars ahead of grip-car No. 409 being out of order and not in good working condition and not fit to run on the incline of LaSalle street tunnel, where said cars could not be held stationary on the incline, and they rolled back and crashed into the train upon which deceased was a passenger.
And in view of the above facts, we cannot too severely censure the said company for gross negligence, and we hold it responsible for deceased death.
And we recommend that the City Council take immediate action and pass a stringent ordinance compelling street railway companies to better protect the lives of passengers by the following method – to wit:
That grip cars shall be closed on both sides, leaving a small entrance, so that it would prevent people from standing on the side-steps of cars; and that dashboards be made higher, and that men be compelled to be at brakes while running through the tunnels; that each car be provided with a block to stop cars on the inclines, in case the brakes fail to work, and that it be made a penal offense to allow any person to stand on platforms of cars.
After witnesses.
Deputy Coroner Monaghan yesterday resumed the inquest upon the remains of George Snell, the victim of the tunnel accident of Thursday night. He had spent many hours endeavoring to find witnesses, trainmen and railway employees who knew anything about the accident except by published rep[orts. His quest had been all but vain, and that in the face of the promise of Supt. Roach to do everything in his power to assist in finding important witnesses.
“The company’s assistance was all a farce, “ he remarked to Attorney Foster as he surveyed the half dozen witnesses, he had been able to get together. “Instead of assisting me, the company has done everything under the sun to make my work impossible.”
Peter Stromberg, the boss of the wrecking crew, was first put on the stand. His story was, in effect, that a Lincoln-Wells train struck at the mouth of the tunnel on account of a broken grip. He endeavored to pull it out with a train, but failed; so, telling the conductor to uncouple the trailer, he made another effort to get the grip up the grade. For some reason the trailer brakes did not work, and the car started down the incline. It collided with a Clybourn avenue grip and both ran down the incline. Halfway up the slope there was a Lincoln and Clark train. The Clybourn train crashed into this one and bore down to the foot of the tunnel where it collided with another train. There must have been trouble with the brakes, he said, for they did not control the cars. The witness had heard the gripman of the Clybourn avenue car say that a bolt was loose in his cable shoe and that he could not hold the rope. Stromberg was altogether innocent of any information about Snell.
Stories of Other Witnesses.
John Larson, a member of the wrecking crew, had forgotten all he ever knew about the accident. Ole Bartels confessed on the stand that he had supposed he was subpoenaed to testify about the murder of A. J. Snell and professed ignorance of the matter in point. E. L. Crawford, assistant barn boss at the limits barn, admitted that the report of the accident passed through his hands, but he did not read it.
Michael Garvin, gripman of car No. 409, said he saw the conductor lift Snell from under the wheels, but knew nothing of the manner in which he received his injuries. W. H. Slack, the conductor of car No. 409, testified that took Snell from under the wheels but did not see him fall.
Ernest Broms, who lost a thumb in the collision. Was placed on the stand, but his knowledge of the affair was rather cloudy.
In the afternoon John T. Finn, and East Chicago policeman, gave the substance of Snell’s ante-mortem statement, which was made in the presence of doctors and others at the hospital. It was in substance that Snell was standing on the front platform of a Lincoln avenue trailer and that the collision threw him over the dash-board under the wheels. Deputy Monaghan at this point informed the jury that he would secure other witnesses if it was deemed necessary, but the jury, after consultation, announced that it was satisfied that deliberation upon the testimony already given would enable it to formulate a verdict and the case rested” (page 1).
The Coroner and the Snell family continued to fight the railway company. On Dec, 6, 1891, the “Chicago Tribune” reported, “Coroner Hertz sent a communication to State’s-Attorney Longenecker yesterday which may result in getting President Yerkes into trouble. It was in regard to the George Snell case. The Coroner told the State’s-Attorney that he respectfully submitted for his consideration the verdict of the Coroner’s Jury in the Snell case. “In part,” he wrote, “the jury said: ‘We cannot too severely censure the North Chicago Street railway company for gross negligence and hold the company responsible for the death pf the deceased.’”
“Did you send the letter for the purpose of having the State’s-Attorney bring the case before the grand jury?”
“I simply wanted the State’s-Attorney to know what the Coroner’s jury thought of the case and the company’s responsibility for the death of Snell. It would not be becoming to remind a public officer of his duty. I think the State’s-Attorney knows what his duty his duty is and will perform it in this case.”
The Coroner thinks that Mr. Yerkes can be tried criminally for the death of George Snell and bases his opinion on Sec. 48 of the Criminal Code entitled, “Criminal Carelessness.” This section in effect says that whoever has control or management of a public conveyance used for the common carriages of persons and is guilty of gross carelessness or neglect whereby the safety of any person shall be endangered shall be imprisoned not longer than three years, or be fined not more than $5,000 or both. [$5,000 in 1891 is equivalent in purchasing power to $150,719.78 in 2021].
State’s-Attorney Longenecker said he received the Coroner Hertz’ communication and that if upon investigation he found grounds for an indictment he would place the matter in the hands of the grand jury. “However,” he continued, “the Coroner does not lay the blame upon anyone. If it is as the jury states that there was gross negligence it should have been found out by the person or persons were – whether Mr. Yerkes or some of his employees – and held them to the grand jury. Then it would have been imperative for the grand jury to take action. But, as I said, I will look over the evidence and if there is ground for an indictment the matter will be taken up by the grand jury.”
Two days later on Dec. 8, the “Chicago Tribune” reported, “State’s-Attorney Longenecker sent to Coroner Hertz yesterday for the evidence in the case of George Snell, who was killed in the LaSalle street tunnel a few weeks ago. Mr. Longenecker says that someone is undoubtedly responsible for the death of Snell, and he wants to find out who it is if possible” (page 7).
Meanwhile, the estate of George Snell entered probate. On December 17, 1891, Snell’s parents, Frederick B. and Kate Snell, were listed in probate records with the State of Illinois. George’s uncle, Julian O. Snell, was appointed the administrator of his nephew’s estate. The entire extended Snell family was still living and mourning together under one roof.
On January 5, 1892, an announcement appeared under “Court Notes”: “Julian O. Snell, as administrator of the estate of George E. Snell, sued the North Chicago Railway Company for $5,000” (page 12). That same day, the “Chicago Tribune” announced, “Julian C. Snell as administrator of the estate of George E. Snell sued the North Chicago railway company for $5,000 damages. George Snell was the man who was killed in the La Salle street tunnel and in learning the circumstances of whose death the Coroner had so much trouble with the street railway officers” (page 10).
On Dec. 16, 1894, the “Chicago Tribune” announced the judgement in the Superior and Circuits Courts Sections: “JUDGE FREEMAN – 2,752 – Julian O. Snell, admr. estate of George F. Snell vs. North Chicago St. R. R. Co.; on ver., $3,500; appld.” [$3,500 in 1892 is the equivalent purchasing power to about $105,503.85 in 2021].
I have yet to locate any other information pertaining to the George Snell case, or if the family ever received anything from the railway company. Regardless, the Snell family continued in the painting business. By 1910, Julian was listed as a decorator, running his own business, and now living with his nephew’s family on Locust street in Chicago. His nephew, Richard L. Snell was also listed as a painter and running his own business. Richard’s youngest son, George F. (George F. Snell’s namesake), was working as a scenic artist in the theatre industry.
Uncle Julian lived until 1930. At the time of his passing, his occupation was listed as a stage manager. On January 23, 1930, the “Chicago Tribune” reported, “SNELL – Julian O. Jan 21. 1930, of 3736 Clifton ave., uncle of Richard L. Snell. Funeral services at chapel, 2701 N. Clark St. Thursday at 3 p.m. Interment Graceland” (page 14).
To be continued…
