Dick Purcell, a Great Northern passenger brakeman, had both feet cut off at Hillsboro. When the train pulled into the station, they ran by the water tank about the length of a car. Brakeman Purcell went to the rear end of the dining car to take off the "markers" (the colored lights that are carried on the rear of all trains), and as the car was vestibuled, stepped on to the drawhead to reach for the light. After he had secured the light he lost his footing and fell under the car which was being backed up slowly to the depot, the wheels cutting off his left foot above the ankle, and cutting the toes off the right.

Bismarck Tribune, 9/1/1899