The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1907-01-18
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
Young Lady Mangled Under
Cars Monday Night
HAPPENED WEST OF DEPOT
Miss Lena Peterson Killed While on
Her Way HOme--Sister Has
Narrow Escape

NaHHOH GsCdpt
Rarely has the community been so
thoroughly shocked as it was Monday
night last when the news spread that
Miss Lena Peterson had been run over
and the body irrecognizably mangled
under the cars about $50 yards west of
the depot. The sad accident occurred
at a point where four or five switches
join the main track.
Miss Lena and her sister, Gena Peter
son, had spent the forepart of the even
ing visiting the family of their brother,
Oliver Peterson, who lives in the Mer-
riam addition on the north side of the
railroad track, and were an their way
to their own lodgings at the home of
Mrs. G. F.. Goerger on the south side OF
the track, about o'clock. The night
was rather dark but by following the
path thru the deep snow that they had
trod on the way over they anticipated
no trouble in reaching home all right
without lantern. The path led up
to the railroad tracks just west of the
company's store where several tracks
had to be crossed. When the sisters
arrived at this point train was just
pulling into the yard from the west.
They were standing, whether con-
sciously or unconsciously, on another
track while waiting for the train to get
by when they were struck by string
of cars that were being pushed back
ward. Lena was knocked down and it
is said that seven cars passed over her
body, mangling it beyond recognition.
Her sister was also struck but in some
unaccountable way fell outside of the
wheels and was not, it is believed, SER
iously injured. Though, as result of
either the shock of seeing her sister
Lena run over, or the impact when she
was struck by the car, she has been I'M
conscious greater part of the time
and shows evidence of mental derange
ment when not unconscious.
Miss Lena Peterson was 19 years old.
For the past two years she has been
employed as stenographer and type
writer in the Office of the Lamb-Davis
Lumber Co. She was an unusually
bright girl, with an enviable disposi-
ton. Always cheerful, pleasant, and
universally liked and respected by all
with whom she came in contact.
She leaves besides her sister Gena,
six brothers, of whom Oliver, Bert,
Henry, John and Pete make their home
here. The other, Edward, lives at
Wausau, Wis.
The body of Miss Peterson was in
tered at Everett, Wash, on Thursday.
Immediately after the accident Cor
oner Mccoy was notified and arrived
here Tuesday morning. He impanelled
a jury and examined all the witnesses
that knew anything of the circum-
stances leading up to the sad accident.
From the evidence it appeared that
neither light nor Waterman was on the
train that was backing up and no warn
ing of any kind was given of the ap-
pIOoCh vi Vic cars AIOGI bAlO CNAdOhSO
the jury returned the following verdict:
We, the jury, find the death of Miss
Lena Peterson was caused by the negli-
gence of the Great Northern r. r. Co.,
in not furnishing proper protection or
crossings for the public. Said Miss Pc
terson was killed about p. M, Jan. IA,
1907, while trying to cross the G. N.
r. r. track at Leavenworth, Wash,
by an extra train backing in the yard
without proper lights or Waterman,
Mr.. Bennett, conductor.
r. F. Brown, Foreman
T. H. Hartman
G. Hermanson
A. E. Dickinson
r. ]. Dye
L. r. McCamley