Railroad work in the early 1900s was dangerous, and few jobs were more perilous than coupling cars in a busy yard. One wrong step, one trapped foot, or one sudden movement of the cars could mean terrible injury or death.
In August 1909, freight brakeman Ernest R. Croson was working in the Benning Yard in Washington, D.C., when a routine task turned catastrophic. His foot became caught, he was knocked down, and the wheels of the railroad cars passed over him.
Though gravely injured, Croson remained conscious and calmly spoke with police as he was taken to the hospital…