The morning news., 1888-12-29
BURIED IN A HOUSES RUINS.
The Trying Experience OF Farmer
Scheick and His Family.
From the Chicago Tribune.

Scheick and His Family.
From the Chicago Tribune.
John Scheick, farmer living on a coun-
try cross roads twelve miles west of this city
and near the Elgin branch of the North.
western railway, had his house smashed into
kindling wood and his wife and nine little
Scheicks scattered all over the township by
one OF the most peculiar accidents on record
No one was hurt, but Mr.. Scheick has
learned lesson in house moving. The
story, as told by Mr.. Scheick and put in
Eughsh, is as follows:
For nearly two decades the Scheicks had
lived In frame house Just south of the
railway track in Schaumberg township. Ii
was cottage of four rooms, but was suffi-
cient for the desires of Mr.. Scheick and his
famlly OF fourteen, including wife, children,
and three hired men. Some time ago Mr.
Schelck traded his farm for that of neigh
Dor. The new property was situated about
half b mile north of the railway track.
After harvesting was over Mr.. Scheick and
his hired men dug a cellar and built the
wall, intending to move the family cottage
to the new site.
Tuesday night was decided on for the un-
dertaking. During the day the house was
moved from its foundation to the country
road. Mr.. Scheick argued that the journey
AL JOS ouo tIdCkS SuOulu D6 1duo curing UnS
night, lnasmuch as the danger from passing
trains would be reduced to the minimum
MIR. Scheick and his hired men had consulted
timetable, and, as they figured it, no trains
would pas during the hours necessary to
cross. To still further insure his property
and family from danger the farmer engaged
the services of two neighbors, to each OF
whom he gave bottle of schnapps. One
he sent eastward down the track, and the
1th tharf f<N% %b<,x 4
stop any extra train that might come along
while the great undertaking was in pro.
gress.
The housemover then began his deadly
work. Mrs. Scheick and the children were
asleep in the house. The track was reached
and one corner of the house was half way
across. At that instant the roar of an ap-
preaching locomotive was heard. Mr..
Scheick and his men went calmly on with
their work. Were there not two trusted
lieutenants to signal the iron horse? Alas!
his lieutenants were peacefully sleeping of
the effects of the schnapps. The house was
nearly across when the locomotive rounded
the curve under full head of steam.
The sight paralyzed Mr.. Scheick for an
instant. Terror-stricken, he ran toward
the engine, his long hair flying, his arms
extended, and all the time shouting "Stop,
stopln His helpers made the quickest fence
jumping time on record, and then from the
adjoining lot breathlessly awaited the shock.
There was a loud toot and biff- bang. The
house lay scattered twenty feet to the north
ward
The men ran to pick up the dead and
dying. From the ruins, one by one, crept
the little Scheicks, their eyes bulging from
their little sockets. Then followed Mrs.
Scheick with the baby.
''Vat vos dotg' was her first inquiry.
One of the hired men winked to his COM
panion and replied, sit vas elm skiclone.".
When Mr.. Scheick recovered his faculties
he started down the track. armed with a
horsewhip. Ere long there foated back on
the chilly air sounds of conflict, above
which a pleading voice could be heard
shrieking, 30 myi Omym