The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-07-06
An Asve-rnspiring accident.

An Asve-xnspirine Accident.
This community never before expert
enced such a shock as that occasioned
by the tragic death of. L. Mullen, on
Friday evening last. Without a mo-
ments warning, and in the presence OF
fully two hundred of his personal friends
and acquaintance death with awful
suddenness claimed him for his own.
The fire department of which he was an
honored member were out for practice
preparatory to an exhibition to have
been given on the Fourth of July. Lad
ders had been stacked and hose laid IN
the presence of a large and interested
concourse of citizens, and at the conclu-
sion the three companies returned to the
city hallin double quick time. The Hook
and Ladder Company and Clipper Hose
had already reached their quarters and
the Acme Company OF which Mr.. Mullen
was member was the last in. When
only few rods from the entrance to the
hose house he tripped and fell, the wheel
passing over his chest, crushing the ribe
and so affecting the heart that death
was practically instantaneous. A thrill
of horrors ran through every individual
who observed him fall, forit was evident
that serious results must ensue. The
cart weighs 1900 pounds and it was
running as fast as they could possibly
run. As the wheel passed over him ne
partially raised as if to regain his feet
and sank back into the arms OF Assist
ant Engineer Murphy who sprang TO
catch him, lifting him as tenderly and as
lightly as though he were child, and
ran with him to the drugstore OF Han
son & Emerson, but life was extinct be-
fore he reached there. A single moan,
convulsiye sigh, and the end came within
a minute from the time he fell, and be-
fore the medical aid which was immedi.
ately summoned could arrive. The re-
mains were conveyed to his home, where
his stricken and bereaved wife awaited
them, she having been previously noti-
fed of the awful calamity.
The funeral occurred on Sunday last,
Rev. T. F. Hamilton officiating, and was
the largest ever held in this city. The
band, of which he was amember, headed
| the procession from the residence to the
Episcopal church, the fremen and rail-
| road employees being in line. The church
was beautifully decorated with flowers,
the chancel being banked high, and they
were arranged with rare taste.
The casket was covered with flowers,
there being a number of beautiful de.
signs, among them a harp, a wreath
with the word "Acme" and freman's
trumpet. The church was crowded and
twice as many more were unable to gain
entrance and remained on the chnrcf
lawn through the solemn and impressive
service. At the conclusion the casket
| was borne to Greenwood cemetery, fol
lowed by a procession of more than 6
hundred carriages. 1t was grief
stricken cortege.
John Letward Mullen was born near Win
chester, Ind, on February Sd, 1850, and
remov ed to this city in 1881. Soon after. III
removed to North Dakota and Manitoba
where he remained until 1885, when he re
turned and was for a time employed b!
Joseph Capser and later by S. M, Bruce a
clerk In December, 1889, he married Mis-
Minnie eldest daughter of Captain Bruce
and two children. aged respectively thre;
years, and eleven months, are the fruits
this marriage. To them and to the Widowed
mother and a brother, both living at win
| chester, Ind. the heartfelt sympathy OF al
is extended.
Heswas universally esteemed by larg
circle of friends for bis many noble traits
character. he was uniformly consideiat
and affabIe, being deservedly popular wit
all, His associates in the employ OF tn
, Great Northern railroad, with whom he ha
: co-operated for several years, feel the los
with peculiar force, not only because of hi
efficiency, but because their daily associs
ton with him gave them keener apprecl
( alton of his noble traits OF character. i
q every relation oflife ne strove to do his flu
duty, and no more exalted eulogy can
pronounced relative to man In any static
in life.