Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-06-09

Track Just as the engine reached
the crossing. The pilot of the
engine struck him and threw him
to one side, and those who wit
messed the accident say it looked
for Il moment as if he would not
be run over, but his clothing
caught on one Of the cars and he
was dragged under the wheels
and carried for about fifty or
sixty feet, he body being crushed
and mangeled in a horrible man.
ner, death being instantaneous.
None Of train crew knew of
the accident until the stop at the
depot, as the fireman was busy
at the time and the engineer was
on the wrong side to see any one
approaching from the north. The
train was running at a low rate
OF speed, probably ten or twelve
miles an hour, but it is probable
that even if they had seen the
man approach the tracks the re-
suit would have been the same,
as the train had given the neces-
sary warning when approaching
the crossing, and would have ex-
pected the man to stop at the
side of the track until they had
passed, and it would have been too
late % save him after he had
stepped on the tracks. o
The mangled body was gather.
ed up and taken to the under
taking rooms Of the Ellinwood
Furniture Co., where an inquest
was held before Justice Of the
Peace S. n. Holt, and the follow
ing jurors. W. A. Howard. R. B.
HerOld, B. l.. Harrison. Henry
Held. Frank MeggerS and John
McNullen, who after hearing the
testimony of the witnesses to the
accident and viewing the remains
rendered a verdict of accidental
death.
The body was removed from
the undertaking rooms to the
home Sunday evening, and funer-
al services were held at that
place Monday morning at 10
O'Clock and at 10:30 at the Ger.
man NJ. E. church, where a large
cOncOurse of sOrrOwing neighbOrs
and friends gathered to pay their
last mark of affection and esteem
to the dead. the congregation be-
ing so great that the building was
not nearly large enough to ac-
commOdate them. Rev. p. W.
Matthaei was the officiating MIN
lister and choose for his text Mat
thew 25-10, "And while they went
to buy the bridegroom came; and
they that were ready went in
with him to the marriage, and
the door was shut" The remarks
by the pastor were very apprO-
pirate and touching and the ser
vice was very impressive. a
quartette sang some very beauti-
full and appropriate hymns.
Carl johann Wilhelm Ruch was
born at Selesen, POmmern, Ger:
many, Nov. 2S, 1910, and came
to his death at EllinwoOd, Kan,
June 3, 1911.
In 1862 Mr.. Ruch came to
America and settled at Blooming
ton. Ill. Here in 1870 he was
married to Ernstine JacObine
Krause. To this union were born
two daughters both of whom
died in infancy. In 1877 they
they located on a farm near Du-
buque. Some years ago they
moved ON their farm near Elm
wood and later came to town.
Mr.. Ruch's religious life dates
back to- his young manhood. Sew
eral years before he came to Amer
lea he was soundly converted.
Since they came to Kansas Mr..
Ruch was a local minister Of the
Methodist church. He was a
very earnest worker and although
he lived here and preached in va
rIOus localities for more than thir
ty years, still he never lost the
respect of the PEOPLE who were
always glad to hear him at any
time. He as a true and faithful
Christian to the end, and although
very hard Of earring and partial