The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-07-26
ENGINE HIT A SPEEDER,,
JOHN ANDERSON DEAD

From Mondays Daily.
John Anderson, a stationary engi-
neer of this city, was instantly kill
ed. and several others in his party
narrowly escaped death when their
speeder was run into by hill en-
CINE on the Northwestern line, about
mile and one-half east of Lewis
ton, yesterday There were six men
on the speeder, and all except An
derson had miraculous escape
from death.
They left Lewiston about noon on
the speeder, Anderson being in
charge. He had been repeatedly adj
vised not to take the speeder out,
especially if the hill engine or any
freight were scheduled to run be-
tween Lewiston and Stockton, but
he thought he would probably beat
the hill engine, which was to re-
turn shortly from Lewiston to the
CluSHlHS pldHl, WHlSu ID dDouI huil
ways between Lewiston and Stock
ton.
On the, car were John Anderson,
Albert Krost and Lewis Widell of
MankatO, Arthur Johnson and Fred
and Hubert Sackriter, the latter two
being young men from Lewiston,
who wanted to see the explosion
of the dynamite in loosening up
the rock at the crushing plant.
Sackriter Saved Self.
They were going through a ra-
vine and around a sharp bend,
when the engine swung around the
curve and rushed on to the motor
car The engine came on them
with such force, that the men on
the car had little time to escape
However, Fred Sackriter rose up in
the rear of the motor car and
caught the hand rail of the engine,
and was carried several hundred
feet before the engine was stopped.
Albert Krost was hit in the back
of the head, and both shoes were
wrenched off. His escape from
death was considered most miracu-
lous. The other jumped down the
motor car was smashed to splinters
and carried ahead Of the engine for
some distance. Anderson, who was
in charge of the motor car, was
hit in the back of the head and his
skull fractured, and both legs cut
off and mangled terribly. His death
was instantaneous.
Engineer Bell of the hill engine,
stated that he could not see the mo-
tor car until he saw the men jump.
The engine was backing up, having
gone to Lewiston with a load, and
was returning to the chrushing
plant. The country near the scene
of the accident is very wild and
there are several reverse curves in
the gorge there, which makes it diff
ficult to see far ahead. The tender
being ahead of the cab, it was al
most impossible for the engineer to
see the motor car.
Coroner Was Called.
Immediately after the accident,
message was sent to the crushing
plant, and later DR.. Steinback, coro-
ner of Winona county, was sent for,
and he came to the scene on a
special train. A guard had been
placed over the remains of the vic
tim of the accident to await the
arrival of the coroner. After max
ing an examination, Coroner Stein
back stated that death resulted from
an accident in the collision.
The remains were taken to Lew
iston and held there until this noon,
when they were brought to .Mankato.
The hill engine had helped pull a
heavy load of rock up to Lewiston,
as there is a heavy grade between
Stockton and Lewiston. The engine
could not turn on any turnstile at
Lewiston and hence backed up, and
was going toward Stockton when
the accident happened. Mr.. Anderson
had pulled out the motor car from
it's shed and asked Albert Krost to
accompany him to the crushing
plant of the Wideli company. Krost
did not at that time know that An.
derson had been requested not to
take out the car, especially when an
engine was scheduled to pass in a
short time. However, he joined Mr..
Anderson and the other four.
Franciscus Did Not Go With Party.
Frank Franciscus of The Review
was trout fishing some distance
away. The party waited for him for
half an hour, but when he did not
show up, they started without him.
Today Mr.. Franciscus is thankful
that the trout occupied his attention.
The party intended to go to the
camp for dinner, but when they ar
rived there minus one of their
members, they could eat nothing of
the fine chicken prepared by the
cook
There was to be a huge charge of
dynamite to be exploded, but this
was deferred until $3.50 O'Clock.
The Widell company mas the con-
tract for furnishing rock ballast for
railroad beds, and as there are many
trains passing the crushing plant every
day, the blasts are generally made on