FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
Green Lake County Democrat,
September 13, 1883

    On Monday evening of this week, as the Markesan passenger train was rushing along at a high rate of speed, just east of Utley, engineer Lyon discovered a man laying [sic] on the track, with his head on the rail. It being on a curve he did not see him in time to stop the train before it struck him. The pilot of the engine caught him and lifting him from the track threw him into the ditch. The train was backed up and the unfortunate man taken on board and brought to Markesan. After taking him on a stretcher up to the hotel, Dr. Manley was summoned to attend him. An examination showed a frightful cut on the head, one on the back of the neck, and another across his chin, besides numerous bruises about the body. His wounds were properly cared for, and he made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. [sic] On Tuesday morning he was much better, both in mind and body, and gave the following account of himself:
     His name is Mike Cavanaugh, and lives over near Rosendale. He had lately been at work in the granite Quarry at Utley. He says the last he remembers is, that some time Monday forenoon he was at Fairwater. He got a bottle filled with liquor, and with a companion, started for the quarry, on foot. Thinks he has a faint recollection of their sitting down under a tree and taking a drink from the bottle. From that time all was blank to him until the doctor was sewing up his wounds, in the hotel sample room. President Paddock sat up and carred for him during the night.
     Appearances indicate that Mike was on a big "toot" that day, and started for home on the railroad track , with the above result. What clothes he had left on him were wet, and he had probably been wandering around in the marsh. It came very near being his last spree, and it is a great wonder that he was not killed outright.