People's voice., 1900-06-21

from himself, his conscience and
his record.
As we advance into the unforeseen
Of this another year, shall we not
seek to bring our conscience into
harmony with Him who is the au-
thor Of peace and contentment?
A Star SPECIAL from Hutchinson
gives the following account Of the
accident in which Mrs. J. 5. Patten,
mother of Joe Patten, Of Wellington,
lost her life: Three persons were
killed here shortly after midnight by
an AtchiSOn, Topeka q Santa Fe car
running into street car on the Main
street crossing. Tie passengers did
not see the freight train coming until
they were almost in front Of it. The
excitement was so great that several
people Jumped of Of the west side Of
the car directly Ia front of the train.
Mrs j. S. Pdtten ran from the east
side Of the street Car. jumped and fell
directly beneath the wheels. Mrs.
William Burtch also Jumped off the
west side aud was fatally crushed
Mr.. and Mrs. George KOon, a young
couple who were married a few months
ago, jumped at the same time. She
was killed and he was badly injured
but will recover. The crowd was re-
turning from a meeting Of all lodges OF
the town. Mrs. KOOn was a member
OF the Royal Neighbors team and was
dressed in the white uniform used.
She was dragged from the track by the
young husband, who was almost help
less, and died as he held her in his
arms. The freight train had three
car loads Of stock ahead Of the engine
and was running slow. The car was
one Of the large summer cars, open on
the sides, and holds between fifty and
sixty persons. The cries Of "stOp" and
Jump excited the Car driver so that
he brought the car to halt directly
ahead of the train. The engine was
reversed so that the train stopped a
few feet from where 1t struck the car.
All of the deaths were the result of
the passengers jumping directly under
the train, owing TO the excitement
Mrs. KOOn was sitting in the end OF
the seat and her husband stood close
by upon the car platform. Yielding
to the cries Of the crowd to jump, he
caught hold Of his young wife, telling
her to jump with MIN. AS they
leaped from the car the wife struck
against the husband, throwing him
partly free from the train and herself
falling directly under the wheels.
KOon was a member Of the late
Twenty first Kansas volunteer regi-
ment. An inquest is in progress to-
day and every effort will be made to
locate the fault of the accident. The
trainmen claim that they tried to
stop the street car by signals As the
stock cars were ahead of the engine
the headlight was hidden from the
view Ct the car driver, and two or
three dead" box cars on another
track also hid the approaching train.
Half Of the town had attended the
lodge tournament and the crowds were
scattered along the street on their
way home, and there was great con-
fusion. The three who were killed
outright were taken at once to hotel
near by. Among those dangerously
injured were Mrs, Edward White, one
of whose ribs was broken; Mrs. j. H.
GlasscOck, whose collar bone was
broken by the fall from the car and
who was badly bruised from being
tramped on by the frightened horses
which were hitched to the car, and
Mrs. Daniel COnklin, whose ankle was
brsken. The funerals will be held
tomorrow and will be attended by all
of the lodges of the town. The sor-
row Is heightened hv the character
Of the crowd. Hutchinson is known
as a lodge town. The entertainment
at the auditorium was il the nature
of a lodge reunion and team tOurna-
ment. Each lodge team was present
to take part in the exhibition drills,
and the majority Of the members Of
all of the lodges were out as specta.
tors Most of those in the crowd were
friends Of the killed aud injured.