Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-29
ROCK ISLAND MAN
KILLED ON EVE OF
HIS WEDDING DAY
William Eaalk Suffers Instant
Death at Corner Sixth Ave
nue. and Second Street.
TOUCHES LIVE GUY WIRE
Bride Fsints When Made Aware of
Accident to Man She Was to Have
Married This Afternoon.

William Z. Haalk, aged q years, 612
Second street, was instantly killed at
. tho corner Of sixth avenue and Sec.
ond street at G:15 O'Clock last evening.
when he touched guy wire leading
from a pole TO the ground.
The accident is most appalling. as il
occurred on the eve Of his wedding
day. and Miss Laura Schmid. POOL
Seventeenth street. who was TO have
been his bride tainted when she learn
ed Of his death.
In company with Fred Koestre. aged
II years. son Of Mr.. and Mrs. Christ
Koestre, G25 Second street. young
Haalk went TO a mail box several
blocks from his home and deposited a
letter On returning with the boy
Haalk passed under the guy wire
and as he did so. extended his hand in
the air. touching IT, He fell back. in.
stantly killed.
The Koestre boy had been swinging
on the wire previously, having been
held up 20 II by Haalk. The boy re
ceived no shock. II was thought that
when he released his grasp on the
wire. broom wire, which was found
suspended from an electric light wire
caused the broom wire TO come in con
tact with the guy wire. and that wher
Haalk touched il he was electrocuted
Twenty-Five hundred volts we're car
ried In the electric light wire.
Following the accident. the Koestrs
boy ran to the home OF Haalk and no
tined his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Gus
iave Haalk. who called a physician.
The doctor ON arrival pronounced
him dead. claiming that he had proba
bly, been instantly killed. There were
no burns OF the hand with which h,
had touched the wire.
JOY TURNS TO SORROW.
Amid Joy and happiness in two Rocl
Island families. while nearing III
height In the approaching wedding o
Mr.. Haalk and Miss SChmid, Their,
came the incident which was a severe
shock TO all the relatives of each. Tha
the accident should occur on the da,
preceding what would probably hay,
been the most happy event in the live
5f the couple. has only accentuated tn,
gIief OF all. Haalk had been in a hap
py mood during the entire day.
INITIALS POSTPONED BEFORE.
The wedding Of Mr.. Haalk and Mis-
Schmid was 10 have occurred at tn,
home OF the parents Of the bride. Mr.
and Mrs. A. F. Schmid. June %, th
year. Three days before that date
the bride became III OF pneumonia
The wedding was indefinitely postpor
ID and on the advice OF the attendin
physician members OF the famil
agreed not 10 set date for it unit
the bride had regained her health
About two weeks ago the doctor pro
nounced her strong and we'll and III
date was set for today.
Since that time there has been muc
preparation in view OF the event. an
everything was in readiness The ce
emony was 70 have occurred at III
home Of the brides parents at
o'clock this afternoon. Rev. Pl
Wilhelm. pastor OF the German IL
theran church OF this city was TO hav
conducted the ceremony.
At S o'clock this evening there wa
20 have been a big reception at III
home OF the bride. and many friend
OF the couple had been invited. Fo
lowing the reception. the bride an
groom were TO have departed on
short honeymoon.
HAD HOME PROVIDED.
The groom had coy little home +;
5li Thirteenth avenue furnished f
his bride and while returning 10 h
home was planning on removing h
belongings 10 the new cottage. whei
he was TO reside with his bride
About O'Clock last evening Mi'
Schmid arrived al the home OF NJ
Haalk. She had not been told Of =