Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-01-27
ALBERT ]. WOODRUFF
STRUCK BY TRAIN
Lancaster Man Met Death Up
on Railroad Track.
Was Returning Home From His Labors
"wednesday Evening by
Work Train.

man, who proved to be A. j. Wood
ruff, of this city, by the side or the
Northwestern railway track. near the
Peter Stoffel farm. last Thursday
morning, came as shock and surprise
to Lancaster people.
Mr.. Woodruff, who was very deaf,
had been engaged fol some time past
in chopping wood on the Hamilton
place north of the city. He had been
in the habit of returning ONE nearly
every evening, although portion OF
the time he would stay at the farm
home of his sister, Mrs. Maiben, who
lives in the vicinity of where he was
at work.
Last Wednesday evening he was re-
turning home, on or alongside the
railroad track, and appears to have
been struck by a work train that had
left Lancaster for Montfort, the engln
Running backward and pulling a
coach in which there were several
workmen.
Mr.. Woodruff, could not of course
hear the approaching train and it is
also quite probable that he was look
ing downwards in order to guide his
footsteps. Just how the accident &C.
Cured no one can tell. All that is
known about his death was brought to
light the next morning when his body
was discovered about Is feet from the
track which runs past the Pete Stoeffel
farm. The members of the crew of
the morning passenger train were the
first to find the body and word was
soon sent back to Lancaster.
Marshal Mccarthy and number Of
others Immediately went out to the
scene of the accident, but for some
time failed to recognize the dead man,
as his face was covered with blood
which hal flowed copiously from a
wound in his head. Several reports
rs to his identity. became current "a
Lancaster. 1t was rumored that the
man was the Italian who had sold
little statuettes here the day
previous Another rumor was that
Fritz Raenke had been killed.
Not until the pockets of the dead
man were searched and tax receipt
found was it established that he was
Albert Woodruff.
From the relative positions of the
body, and his hat and basket, it was
o,-:5o.,4 49, - ho5 x1orIorod Yoroho n.
" in dazed condition, for about a
quarter of a mile. His watch which
was badly crushed, had stopped at
about 10 minutes after 5 and this is,
without doubt, about the time that
the tram struck him. When found
the body was lying in small hollow
near the fence.
A coroner's jury consisting of VIM.
Miller, James Treloar, Ralph Place,
: Walter Knox. Clint Edwards and
Albert Philips was drawn and the in
quest was held over the body, and at
4 o'clock was continued in Justice
Moses Office. It was found after con-
siderable testimony had been given
that it would be necessary to summon
the workmen and the crew that were
on the train. On Friday morning the
inquest was adjourned until Saturday
forenoon before which time certain
witnesses could not be present.
Among the witnesses examined
during the inquest were Peter
Hoffman and son. Their story was
as follows: They had been driving
to Lancaster that evening and just be-
tore crossing the railroad track
stopped, as one of them had just
moment or two before heard the sound
of an approaching train. In moment
they heard this train come to a sudden
stop and Immediately crossed the
track, knowing that there was no
danger.
After driving a few yards they
were in a position to see the work
train; at that distance it was impos
sible to ascertain what their cause
was for stopping. The younger Mr..
Hoffman stated that he saw a man
staggering around near the train as
though intoxicated and concluded that
it was the same drunk man whom he
had seen about that vicinity a short
time before. He did not mention this
TO his father at the time, thinking it
of little consequence but on hearing
of the accident the next day inn
mediately recalled the incident.
What Peter Hoffman and, SON had
seen from the road made it appear
that the men on the train were aware
Of the fact that they had struck some
one but after stopping had gone on
and left the man.
The members of the crew Will