The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-11-25


German Americans Did Help Some,
Everybody Is Happy" "NIankato'
Governor" and ''The, Whole State i
With Us"
If yesterday had been such a day
as this has been the city would have
been called upon to entertain sew
eral hundred or thousand more visitors
| From Fridays Daily.
The Elysian Enterprise contains a
long story of the accident that occurred
near Elysian, in which Mrs. +. T..
| Spear was killed and Mrs r. n. Gordon
and children were injured The Enter
prise says:
The accident happened at the grade
| crossing between the Waber and Wes-
ley farms. about mile east of Elysian.
As the roadway approaches the cross.
ing at that point the railroad track ia
partially hid from view, but the road
way can be seen for some distance
from the train. Mrs. Gordon was driy-
ing the machine, and if the engineer
sounded the warning whistle she did
not hear it and none of the occupants
OF the auto realized the near approach
OF the train until the engine was rie;lt
upon them. The car was struck at an
seat, and Mrs. Spear was thrown on
the south side of the track. as was
Mrs. Gordon and the two little boys.
Beaufort was carried on the pilot of
the engine for a distance of 400 feet
beyond the crossing and stepped to the
ground when the train was brought to
"a stop. Mrs. Gordon was thrown
distance of nearly one hundred feet
and was picked up near the fence
where both seats of the machine were
hurled on the south side of the track
The auto was totally wrecked and
landed on the north side of the track
about thirty feet from, the crossing
When the train was stopped and
backed to the crossing the passengers
and trainmen went TO the aid of the
stricken people, and when the body of
Mrs. Spear was picked up near the
cattle-guard life was extinct. The body
was placed in the baggage car, and the
other members of the party were car
ried into the coach, and the train
backed into the station here Progress
was slow as it was necessary to senG
flagman ahead of the returning train.
j. s. Gedney of Waterville was
among the passengers on the train and
at that moment showed rare presence
of mind. He started for the village
to summon medical aid. Clifford Crook,
who witnessed the crash, hastily hitch.
ed up buggy and hurried to town
with Mr.. Gedney, to carry the mes.
sage. By their prompt action DR..
Allen was Immediately called in from
the country and DIR. Shrodes summoned
from Watervile, fully twenty minutes
before the train arrived. As soon as
it was learned that all the members
OF the party were perhaps seriously in
jured DR.. Blanchard of Waseca and DIR.
Curran of Mankato were called to az.
sist in caring for the injured children.
Mrs. Gordon was the first to be
reached by the doctor, but she begged
that the first aid be given to Mrs.
Spear and the children, and she was
the last of the injured to he taken
from the coach. When it was found
that Mrs. Spear was beyond help the
body was carried to the home of ].
w. Root near by. Her skull was badly
crushed when the body fell from the
front of the engine near the cattle
guard. Her left arm was fractured and
wound appeared over the eye. but the
fractured skull had caused instant
death.
As the little boys, Monroe Spear and
Ralph Gordon, who are each the ace
OF six years, were carried from the |
coach, they appeared to be in agonizino
pain, and it was a trying scene for
stout hearts. An examination showed |
that little Monroe Spear had fortunately
escaped with flesh wound on the face.
caused by striking after the fall. Beau.
fort Gordon, aged fourteen years, was
able to walk from the train with n
itolC dSSlSIdHCc anu Is recovering !
quickly. Little Ralph suffered severe
Druise on the head, and was in a pre-.
,arious condition, but the scalp was
not fractured. Prompt surgical aid re-
ieved the condition that threatened
him and he is now gaining nicely.
Mrs. Gordon was severely bruised,
md the right side of her face was
BADLY lacerated, nearly severing the
'ar, but the physical injuries were not
% be compared with the mental an
ylish that she suffered when she learn.
ID of the death of Mrs. Spear, who had
been her guest for the day, and for
many years a very dear friend. She
vas pitifully grieved to learn that the
anticipated pleasure trip had ended so
and the. tragic fate that
'vertook them is pathetic in the ex.
RENE.
Mr.. Spear lived at Waterville for sew.
raj years, where he was manager of
ha T amhart. l,,nhar uor1 I,,t n ,,oonI