The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-30
FEARFUL TRAGEDY
Five Persons Run Down
by a Railroad Train
A DEADLY CROSSING.
One Instantly Killed. Two
Badly Injured and Two
Escaped.
A DEADLY CROSSING.

/
deepest sympathies occurred in this
city on MOnday-an notwithstanding
in instant death to one and fearful in
juries to two others. The train from
the east due here at one O'Clock p. M,
at the Main-st. crossing crashed into
a lumber wagon containing five per-
sons-Mr. and Mrs. Herman Lemmers,
their two children, aged respectively
six weeks and sixteen months, and
Miss Annie VOTERS, q cousin of Mrs.
Lemmers-the latter being instantly
killed, and Mr.. and Mrs. Lemmers
seriously injured, the children miracu-
lousy escaping with scarcely bruise.
One of the horses was so badly hurt
that in mercy it had to be killed, the
other being uninjured.
Mr.. Lemmers resides on farm east
of the city, but had been visiting John
WOlters in the town of Getty, the
father of the young lady who was
killed, and they were bringing her to
the city to take place in the family
of F. E. Barnum as house servant.
The train from the west had arrived a
little ahead of the one from the east
which was a few minutes late, and hav-
ing to side track to let the train from
the east pass, pulled down to the east
end of the yard just as Mr.. Lemmers
was approaching the Main-st. crossing
from the south. The inmates of the
wagon were intently watching the train
which was just west OF the crossing,
and observing it back upon the switch,
without experimenting any danger
from the other direction, drove upon
the track right in front of the train
from the east, and a terrific crash,
which was heard a long distance, re-
suited. The pilot of the engine struck
the wagon about midway of the box,
crushing it to splinters, save a por-
ton of the front which contained the
five persons, and that was lifted upon
the pilot and carried a. block, all five
of the occupants being damned to-
gether against the front of the engine.
When the train was brought to a
standstill, about 400 feet from where
the accident occurred. a crowd of per-
sons hurried to render what assistance
was possible. Miss VOTERS had been
instantly killed, Ny I.ammar5 v-,.a
badly cut and bruised about the head
and body, one rib broken, and Mrs.
Lemmers had suffered dislocation of
the right shoulder. The children were
uninjured. The dead and the living
were conveyed to the residence of
Thomas Hoffman, close by, and Drs.
Dubois and McMasters summoned. 1t
was found that Miss VOTERS neck
was dislocated, and there was slight
confusion on the head. The wounds
of Mr.. and Mrs. Lemmers were dress
ed, and both are doing we'll. 1t was
feared that Mr.. Lemmers had suffered
fracture of the skull, but fortunately
the cut is not dangerous.
A strange feature of the accident is
that Miss Wolters was on the side
farthest from the train, Mr.. Lemmers
being seated between the women, each
one of whom had child in her arms
That the little ones escaped is wonder
full.
The Catholic order of Foresters ten
dered their lodge room to the friends
of Miss Wolters, who had her body
conveyed there, where it was prepared
for burial, the funeral being held on
Wednesday, and it was very largely
attended.
Coroner Pinault was notified, and in
company with the deputy coroner, DR..
Dunn of st. Cloud, and County Attor-
ney Sullivan, came up on Tuesday.
A jury was empaneled, consisting OF
VIM. VanValkenburg, w. d. Town
send, G.. A. Emerson, Frank Hines,
M. F Woodbury. and l.. S. Bishop.
After viewing the body an adjourn
ment was taken until next Monday at
8 a. M, at the assembly hall. George
Fl. Reynolds of st. Cloud, came up to
represent the railroad company at the
inquest
The train was in charge of COnduc-
tor WOolnough and Engineer Kavan.
augh, who will be present at the in
quest.
The question of an underground
crossing at this point will doubtless be
revived, and it is sincerely hoped it
will not be long before it is an accom-
plished fact.
John r. Howard, claim agent of the
Great Northern road, was in the city
on Monday, and was one of the first at
the scene OF the accident.
wood wanted.
One thousand cords of soft wood,
poplar or birch, wanted at the Keller
factory.
KELLER MANUFACTURING co.