The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1911-08-24
Little Girl Stumbes on Railroad Track at MerrimacK
and Three Women Risk Their Lives
at Rescue.
MRS. WILLIAM ASTLE is INSTANTLY KILLED
The Mother of the Child Mrs. Samuel Potter Suffers
Loss of One Limb and Other Is
Badly Injured.
From Fridays Daily

From Fridays Daily
A little girl falls into danger and life
is sacrificed to save.
That in brief is the story OF the ter
ribIe accident at Merrimack early this
morning. It was one of the most
heartrending incidents which ever oc-
CURED in this section of Wisconsin.
Mrs. Samuel Potter had been visit
ing in the village, her home having
been there prior to moving away about
one year ago. When Mrs. Potter and
little daughter, three or four years old,
started for the station to take the train
they were accompanied by Mrs. Dav-
i'd Marshall and Mrs. William Astle.
All were in happy mood and little
did they realize the impending danger.
When the tracks were reached the lit
tie girl fell and the three women rush
ed to save the child from the passenger
train which was just reaching The
station. All three women were struck
with the following results:
Mrs. William Astle, instantly killed.
Mrs. Samuel Potter, one leg cut off,
heel torn away and head injured.
She died later.
Mrs. David Marshall, injured inter
naIly. She was rendered unconscious
Friends Lend Aid.
Mrs. r D. Wool, wife of the sta
tion agent at Merrimack, and her two
sisters came TO Baraboo today and
were able 10 give at first hand the
terrible scene that followed the acci-
dent. Mrs. Wood was accompanied
by her two sisters, Mrs. Theodore
Hoffman and Mrs. William Reno of
Mazomanie.
The three sisters rushed to the
rescue as soon as the accident occurred.
Mrs. Wood realized that one was
probably killed and another was un-
conscious. She says that the third,
Mrs. Potter, called piteously for her
child and kept going over and over,
"If | could only walk Ready hands
bore her into the little station to wait
until physician could be summoned.
The other two were also lifted up
and taken away.
Mrs. Potter was afterwards placed
upon the passenger train which had
borne down upon them, to be taken
to Madison hospital. Death entered
the car while on her way TO the capi-
tai city.
DR.. Irwin of Lodi, Mrs. George
Premo and Mrs. George Loos of Mer-
rimack left with Mrs. Potter and were
with her when life went out. The
little daughter, Carrie Potter, is at the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. William o.
Keefe.
Long a Merrimack Resirent.
Mrs. Astle was long a Merrimack
resident. She was aged So years and
besides her husband leaves two sons
and daughter: John Astle, Merri-
mack; Norman Astle, Lodi: and
MS. Nelson Swanson, Merrimack.
Mrs. Astle's husband is brother of
George Astle of Baraboo, president of
the Sauk County Agricultural society
Lived at Viroqua.
Mrs. Potter formerly resided at
VIToqua. After her marriage to M.
Potter, who is a telegraph operator,
they lived fer some time at Merrimack.
After leaving the Chicago Il North
western they moved to Florida and a
short time ago located in Elgin, Illinois.
Mrs. Potter was on her way to Vir-
ooua where friends were to be visited
Officials TO the Scene.
Assistant superintendent f. j. By
.0~.cn and YarimaSter James Nc
Donald went TO the scene of the acci-
dent. Statements IS we e taken by tt
company.
District Attorney John A. Malone
was summoned buS no inquest was
held. Under the new law this is not
REQUIRED in the case of accidents.
Engineer Amos Hull and Conductor
J.F. Whitney had charge of tae train
and Road Foreman j. r. Melcher was