At a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad crossing in Wilmington, Delaware, a set of gates remained lowered longer than expected one day in April 1915. When someone went to investigate, the crossing watchman was found unconscious inside his tower.
His name was Gurnie Mangine. He was 30 years old.
According to the newspaper account, Mangine had heated a fireplace poker in the tower’s stove and deliberately pressed it against his chest in an attempt to reach his heart. The pain caused him to lose consciousness before the heated metal could penetrate that deeply.
He remained undiscovered for approximately half an hour, until the unmoving crossing gates signaled that something was wrong.
Mangine was transported to Delaware Hospital with grave injuries. When questioned, he reportedly said only that he wanted to end his life. He offered no explanation for what had brought him to that decision.
He Tried to Burn a Hole in His Heart
WILMINGTON, Delaware. — Gurnie Mangine, 30 years old, watchman at the Concord Crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad here, tried to burn out his own heart today.
He placed a poker in a stove in the watchman’s tower and heated it to a white heat. Then, holding it against his chest, squarely over the heart, he pressed it inwardly with all his might.
When the hot metal burned its way through his flesh, he fainted from the torture. He was discovered unconscious a half hour afterward when the crossing gates were not raised, and was taken to the Delaware Hospital.
He will die.
Beyond saying he wanted to end his existence, he would give no reason for the deed. He became senseless before the hot poker reached his heart.
Source: The Guthrie Daily Leader. Guthrie, Okla. April 8, 1915.
