The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-25
Thirteen Killed and Ten Hurt In
a Terrible Collision at
Neenah, Wis.
SIGN BOARD CAUSES ACCIDENT
Wow of Driver of Team and Engineer
was Shut OH-Three of In
jured May Die.

Neenan, WIS, sept. ZO.-WOrk Nlf-
tually was suspended today In Neenah
while officers investigated the killing
of thirteen members of a hayrack par
ty that was run over by a fast pas
road yesterday. The accident II was
said was due to large bill board that
obstructed the view OF the driver of
the team and the engineer. The eigh-
teen survivors, eight of whom were
unhurt, and three of whom may die
of injuries. say the accident could
have been avoided but for the sign
board.
The party was hit by train No. "a,
northbound, on the Chicago & North
morning. The merry makers were re-
turning from the celebration OF a we'd
ding anniversary at the farm of Peter
Hansen. The accident took place at
the Commercial street crossing.
Among the dead were three girls.
with the exception of three men who
lived in Chicago, the victims were resi-
dents of Menasha. Wis. Nine of the
thirty-one persons aboard the hay rack
escaped without a scratch. as did the
horses. No one on the train suffered
more than "A momentary jar.
The train, speeding at a mile min
ute, struck the hay rack at 45-degree
angle, this popularity being due to the
fact that the highway crossing is a
diagonal.
The dead were: John Drill. James
Cheslock, Gustav Finn. Mabel Finn,
John Hart, stephen Lisek. Dominick
Ommiechinski, Mabel RIM. John
Schedick, Joseph Schedick, Joseph
Cienyo, Frank Fisgardt and Isabelle
Suchowski.
The injured. Phillip Mott. Benjamin,
Antoine Kurmoski, Myron
Olson, Anna Sodalski. John Suchodol-
ski Amanda Syring and Herman
Syring.
Six Bodies Found on Pilot.
Armless, legless and headess bodies
covered the right of way as the train,
nine coaches i'm length, was brought to
a stop 500 feet from the scene of the
carnage. Several of the bodies were so
badly mutilated that Identification was
possible only by fragments OF clothing.
Six of the victims. all dead, were
discovered on the engine pilot, where
they lay until removed by the train
crew and passengers. Two others were
hurled through a flagmans shanty with
such force as TO overturn the little
structure. one of these was Miss Finn,
who was projected through one OF the
side walls of the house and was still
alive when removed. She died a few
hours later. Another OF the victims
killed was thrown high over a barn
fifty feet from the railroad right-of-
way
Among the occupants of the hay
rack who escaped were Mr.. and Mrs
Joseph Brizinski and child Of two
years. They were seated in the front
part of the rack. the mother holding
he child in her lap About half way
back i'm the rack was Mary Schwartz
bauer. The latter was hurled about
lfty feet and rendered unconscious and
when found by rescuers the Brizinsh
,hild was i'm her arms. having escaped
Inscathed. The parents of the child
we're only slightly injured.
Driver Saw Train Too Late.
Peter Hansen, driver and owner Of
he horses attached to the ill-fated
zig. managed to hang to the reins and
vas the only person aboard who was
not temporarily stunned by the COLI
,ion. He declared he did not observe
he onrushing train until his rig had
reached the tracks.
Practically every person In the rack
was an cmploye of the Menasha Wood
,nware factory. and all were invited to
he Hansen farm to attend the we'd
ling anniversary OF one of their fell
ow employees. Mr.. Hansen had con-
5eyed the merry makers to his farm in
he early evening and was taking them
lome. the home trip being completed
Except for a mile drive when the coll
ision occurred. on the outgoing trip.
he hay rack contained forty persons,
,ut the rig was uncomfortably crowd
d and on the return trip an additional
wagon was obtained. Eight of the par
v occupied the second vihicle. which
ollowed about a mile behind.
A coroner's jury was impanneled as
ioon as possible. but adjournment was
aiken to give the district attorney an
TO Interview witnesses. The
,odies were removed to the Menasha
norgue.
Three Killed on Grand Trunk.
Owosso. Mich. Sept. 25.-Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Alemendinger OF Flint.
Mich, and Miss Marie Baughman oil
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