Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1912-09-19
BOYS KILLED
AT CROSSING
LLOYD ERICKSON, RAY BOYEE
STRUCK BY TRAIN NO. 3 ON
G. N.-SAD CASE

G. N.-SAD CASE
Having transacted some errands q
Springbrook and while returnin,
home, unawares Of any impending
danger, Lloyd Gilmore Erickson
and Ray Boyer were struck on tn
crossing near the town by train 3 0,
the Great Northern railroad and kill
ed last Thursday evening.
The boys were driving q team ant
were both standing in wagon wher
struck by the locomotive, the Erickson
lad handling the reins. The train was
running late and it is evident was hit.
ting up quite a clip when it struck the
boys with fearful impact.
Erickson's neck was broken and it is
evident he was instantly killed while
the Boyer's body was bruised about
the head and probably received inter-
nal injuries. He lived until 2 O'Clock
the next morning. Both the boys were
thrown one hundred feet distant while
one Of the horses was found $50 feet
away. One Of the animals was in
stantly killed, the body badly mutt
lated, while the other lived a short
time after the accident.
Ralph Erickson was born at Lead
yard, Kasouth county, Iowa, April II,
1896 and leaves a father, mother, one
sister and three brothers. The funeral
was held Sunday at 2 o'clock at
Springbrook, burial being made in the
Springbrook cemetary. Music for the
occasion was furnished by the Willis
ton M. E. church choir. Deceasd was
a son of c. Erickson, the candidate for
sheriff on the Socialist ticket.
Ray Newton Boyer the other victim
to the sad accident was born at Ar
thur, Iowa, May "a, 1900. He leaves
a mother, two sisters and one brother.
The funeral obsequies were held in
Williston at II a. M, Saturday, Sep
tember IA, being conducted by Frank
s. Hollett of Williston, assisted by
Rev. A. Alyea Of the Presbyterian
church Of Springbrook. Music by the
N. E. choir. The remains were taken
% Ida Grove, Ia, for burial, accom-
panied by the mother and uncle,
Charles Ulrich.
When the exmplary character Of
hese young lads, just ripening into
and the bright future that |
waited them had their lives been
pared, is considered, the untimely |
niffing out of their lives in the ter
ible accident appeals to everyone
tho had known the young people. Had
oung Erickson lived he would unques-
onably have proved a leading factor
the development Of the west for
is natural trend was in the direction
farming and agricultural pursuits
nd, with a youth Of his strong and
'solute character there is no saying
what prominence he might have
;tained had he lived.
OF Ray Boyer, the other lad who ,
jared the i'll fate, and whose life ,
ID also been Of exceptional promise !
e instance appeals as a peculiarly {
d one. He had arrived at the age (
1ere he was becoming an aid to a t
dowed mother, who was looking for
'rd to the day when she, with good c
ason, could look to her only son for r
pport in her declining years. Young u
yer was bright lad of his age 81
d that he would have made good o
d his life been spared, his few years s,
! already been sufficient to attest. d
from any point Of view the cross
where the accident occurred, To- a,
ed just within the city limits of IL
twelve miles from Will Ii,
on, is Of exceedingly dangerous M
ure. At nearly all times an unob- tn
1cted view Of the crossing is shut az
by cars lying on the switch on one tr
the tracks and the elevators and di
Ion house located on the other CT
}. The main track at this point is Gl
located on q curve. tn
fic