Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-06-04


A00tAev vlctIm 81 Beer
Another Of those fatal accidents vhicl,
oan b traced directly to the sale in our midst
Of that n-intoxicatiug beverage" Lager
beer. took place last Sunday night. The
victim was German carpenter Who worked
for NJ. E. linn near tho depot, ana whose
name was Elias Wlach. The circumstances
Of his death are a. follows:
Wlsch and companion who lodged with
him in Mr.. Zinn's Office, spent the after
noon and evening Of Sunday from to
p. n. 1t Seeland's brewery, northeast Of
town, drinking beer Of which they imbibed
enough to make them decidedly drunk :
some fifteen or sixteen glasses each. About
3 o'clock, Wlach slipped out, as afterwards
proved, for the purpose Of going to his lod-
ing place, but without the know ledge Of his
friend. he was met by Mr.. Dotsc n, At about
aquaster past 3 o'clock between the brew,
cry and smyscr's crossing Of the railroad.
Hs was Keeling, and, shen acccsasd by M.
D. answered 10 German, and vent on.A-
whes ss1t sesn, hs Was discovered BY the
enginser Of the 1910 r. N. train for the
east, layiag across ths rails = few rods vest
Of Smyssr's crossing, on bic back and coat
less. Every effort vas made TO stop the
train before reaching him, but without avail.
The cow>cAtcher carried him some ten rods,
and then ~ vhssls q ths trails psssed over
him. Tie ean wsrs stopped, and The COM
dactor viii n. Hunt our city Narshal,
who was on the train, went back, and upon
turning the unfortunate man over il was
found that hs vss yet alive, but thst his right
leg was almost severed at the thigh and the
LEI. completely 90 between the knee and an
kle. There WAS also IN ngly looking wound
on his forehead, and his lip was slightly cut.
A messenger was sent back TO the station for
hand-car but before lis arrival, wlsch
breathed his last. He lived about an hour
but was entirely unconscious.
Tho mos. plausible theory Of bis being on
the railroad is, that in attempting TO reach
his lodgings in Nr. Zinn's Office Ia his
intoxicated condition, be lost his way, com,
ing 70 the railroad 1t the crossing and that
he then. sought to get right BY walking
up tho track; that in trying this latter
feat, be fell, and striking his head on the
rail or some other hard substance, was
stunned, 50 . 70 make him unconscious OF
the approach Of the train. The wound on
his forehead Was found upon examination
at the inquest to be but desh wound, and
nothing that would have caused DEATH
That il was nos made By The cara. would
seem TO b. proved By the testimony Of Mar.
shal Hunt who Gays that when 10 reached
wlaeh jsss after The cars bad passed over
him the blood on bic forehead wss dry.
The Coroner DR.. H. H. Hunt held an
inqseat upon the body on Monday, and with
. jury composed Of men Of excellent judg.
meat, made . thorough examination Of the
circumstances. The verdict vas that wlach
came to his death whilst in st .te of intoxi.
cation BY being run over BY the cars.
The deceased with The comrade mention.
ed above came to our city last fall and has
been working for Mr.. Zinn most Of The time
since. M. z. describes him - good work.
man and usually sober, industrious man.
He Was about &c to % years Of age and
leaves wife, and one child, 10 the old coun.
try. He was expecting them to join him
here soon; his employer, Mr.. Zinn having
recently forwarded >s5 to pay their passage
TO this country. Cruel indeed will be The
news to them Of the terrible death Of bus.
band and father, dashing them from the very
pinnacle ofhope aEd anticipation down into
the black depths Of sorrow and desola,ion.
And now, who il responsible for this poor
widows despair, this fatherless orphans
distress; who 10 responsible for the untimely
ssking of Of their prop and stay. Ii is not
oil with the mercenary brewer Who piled
him with beer until bereft Of his senses be
vent Keeling into the jaws of death. The
community which tolera.es these sinks Of
iniquisy cannot escape il share Of liability
for their inevitable outsrowths, and events
like the one related above should speak
to the heart and con-
science Of every philanthropic member Of
the community. Every consideration, sell
fish as we'll - humane, demands that our
citizens wake up 70 the fact the. The tide Of
and it, attendant evils in our
midst is honrly growing broader and deeper,
aud that the tine has arrived for determin.
ed action to put down the sale Of intoxica>
ting liquors. Our good name ~ = city, and
safety to our homes sad properly demand
i; religion, charity and our duty to our fell
low men, insist upon il.