Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-14
Ernest Neidert Instantly Killed
and Virgil Amos Hurt BY
Northwestern Train
ESCAPE A PASSING FREIGHT.
onlv to Step in Front of Fast Passen-
aer-Neidert's Body With Every
Bone Broken, Hurled Into Freight
caboose With Such Force as to
Break steps-No Inquest.

Death sudden and horrible 10 an
extreme, was the fate OF ernest t>e'-
dert of State Center, late Sunday all-
ernoon when he was struck by 1ast
n.ssaro.r train on the Northwestern
and instantly killed. Virgil Amos d
friend and companion, was injured, ana
had a miraculous escape from death.
The flying form of Neidert. which was
hurled into the cahoose of freight
passing on the south track, struck
Amos in it's flight, knocking him I'M
conscious. Amos fell in the clear,
however. and was uniniured except for
bad bruises.
The terrible catastrophe proved a
sad ending for pleasant Sunday att
ernoons walk, which the two friends
were enjoying on perfect OCTOBER
afternoon. They had started down the
Northwestern right-of-way, and We're
about a half mile east Of the State
Center station, at 1880 O'Clock, Wheh
the accident happened.
See Freight; Don't Hear Passenger.
AS moving train always attracts
attention, Neidert and Amos were bus
lily engaged watching an approaching
freight on the south track. They were
between the sets of two tracks, and
the freight was coming fast. As the
train was passing they moved little
q. -, n tI,l
contact with the way car steps, and
Neidert stepped onto the north track.
The very instant his body was caught
by the pilot of the engine drawing
the second section of No. II, the Chi
cago passenger, running over fifty
miles an hour.
Body Hurled With Terrific Force.
Practically every bone in the young
mans body was broken by the terrific
impact. both legs being fractured, as
we'll as both arms, and the back. The
skull was also crushed. With such
force was the body hurled thru space
that the steps of the caboose, which
the body struck, We're broken square
off.
Amos Narrow Escape.
EAsHOS ESCAPE was I'LL Lie
was standing a short distance to the
east of Neidert when the latter was
struck He, as we'll as Neidert, failed
to hear the approach Of the passenger
train altho the engineer had his whistle
tied down, seeing the boys, and realiz-
ing that they were in close quarters
with the freight passing at the same
time. Amos was struck by his COM
panion's body as it was flying thru
the air, and knocked unconscious. He
fell, however, between the two sets of
tracks, in such a manner as to escape
being hit by either train. At first it was
thought Amos arm was broken, as it
was badly bruised and swollen. After
the swelling had been reduced, how
ever, no fracture was observable
Inquest Not Held.
In the absence of Coroner Nichols
from the city, the nearest justice, M.
M. Patton, took charge of the body as
acting coroner. He investigated the
circumstances, however, and got state
ments from the engineer and fireman,
and also one from Amos. Mr.. Patton
decided that the railroad compa could
not be held responsible, and considered
an inquest unnecessary.
Neidert Well Known.
Ernest Neidert is a well-known
young man, son of Christ Neidert, a
wealthy and prominent retired farmer,
who now lives in State Center. He was
a bright young fellow, 10 years old.
and graduated last year from the State
Center high school. He recently en-
tered the employ Of w. l.. Newman,
druggist, and was studying pharmacy.