The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-07
TRAIN STRUCK WAGON
KILLED TWO PERSONS
From Fridays DAILY.

That said John Schuengier and
William Hall came to their deaths
at the first crossing west of the
Lamberton depot in Redwood county,
Minnesota, January 80, 1918, by be-
ing struck by the engine of train
No. ID of the Chicago and North
western Railway company, and that
said deaths were caused by reason
of the crossing being dangerous
one, and in our opinion not properly
Observation-Disclosures of the Coron-
er's Jury at Lamberton.
Two men were killed and one was
injured when a Northwestern pasSen-
ger train struck wagon on a cross
ing at Lamberton about 5:25 yester.
day afternoon. The dead are John
Schwengler, farmer, who lives
north Of Lamberton, and William
Hall, who resides in the state of
Washington. Ben Briske, who was
visiting with Mr.. Hall. was injured
about the hips and was stunned, so
that he does not remember what
happened to him. He is able to be
about today.
The three men were going home
from Lamberton in the wagon, and
/ they were all standing up when the
accident happened. The crossing is
about four blocks from the Lamber-
ton depot and the track is partially
shut off from view by an elevator.
/ 1t was showing and blowing hard at
! the time of the accident so that the
men did not see or hear the train
so it is thought by some people.
The wagon was truck squarely by
the pilot OF the engine and smashed
into bits.
Body Found on Pilot.
/ Mr.. SChwensler's dead body was
found on the pilot of the locomotive
and Mr. Hall was thrown from the
wagon. His body was found
short distance from the track Mr..
Schwengler was dead when he was
found. and Mr.. Hall died within
few minutes. He lived until taken
into the depot.
Mr. Briske was able to assist in
placing the two men on the train
which carried them to the depot, but
he has no recollection of the acct
dent.
Conductor Thomas Hughes was in
charge Of the train and Engineer
S. w. Schooley was in the cab.
Skulls Were Crushed.
The two dead men were taken
into the depot and hasty exami-
nation showed that their skulls were
crushed, faces badly cut and lacerat-
ed, but there were comparatively
few marks on their bodies
John Schwengler was forty-nvc
years old and leaves wife and five
children. The team which they were
driving was owned by him and he
was taking Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Briske
to the home of Mr.. Halls mother
which is between Lamberton and
Mr.. Schwengler's farm
William Hall lived in Washington,
and was a widowPr He has daugh-
ter seven years old. He was visiting
with his mother near Lamberton.
Ben Briske is thirty-two years old
and married. He had been in the
saloon business but had spent most
time Of the accident he was the guest
vi WI. I1dll. WHOSE IuOIuPf is
Briske's mother-in-law
A cOroner's inquest was held to-
day. AttOrnev A. r.. Plan, Jr., and
Attorney G. j. Laurisch Of this city
were called to Lamberton to attend
the inquest as representatives of
the Northwestern railroad. There is
considerable excitement over the ac-
cident at Lamberton.
The train that struck the wagon
is known TO the public as the tom
Hughes Flyer" it runs between
Mankato and Tracy. leaving here at
about seven o'clock in the morning
aud returning arrives at 7:45 p. m.
Engineer Tried to Avoid Accident
Engineer Schooley made the state
meDt to local railroad man last
evening that his train was quite
close to the crossing when he saw
the team, which to him appeared to
be running away or the driver was
attempting to make the crossing"
ahead Of the train Mr.. SchoOley,
fearing an accident. sounded the Gus
tomary alarm. and applied the emer-
gency brake. However the wagon
was on the track in an instant. The
train ran about 259 feet after the &C.
cident occurred.
The train was pulling into Lam.
herton at the time, and Engineer
SchOOley was keeping a sharp look
out ahead. He is one of the old
timers on the road and reliable.
The coroner's jury listened to
twelve witnesses. These were the
train crew. two doctors and num-
Der Of spectators who were present
when the accident happened.
It is said that the company was
notified several weeks ago by Coun-
ty Attorney Emerson of the danger
Gus condition of the crossing and
had agreed to hang warning bell
there. The cOmpany's rOadmaster
has made an investigation of condi-
tions.
John Sehnobrig attempted tol
spill the blood of his wife on the
streets of Owatonna Wednesday af-
ternoon. With a dangerous looking
revolver be chased her out of al
store where she was making some
purchases and then fired upon her
when only a few feet away and
again at longer range The first
shot struck Mrs. Schnobrig but the
last one missed her. She was un-
harmed, however, though terribly
frightened. for the bullet, a 32-caliber,
penetrated only part way through
hor cloth;pu ond only Indicted :, CO