Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-01-07
TWO MEET TRAGIC
DEATH ON RAILROAD.

were taken to Mercy hospital, where
Mr.. Webster died few minutes lat
er without showing any signs OF con-
seriousness. Mr.. Butler after short
time recovered his senses and was
able to answer enough questions to
identify himself and companions.
When asked his name, he said, 81 am
James Butler and work for the
Cadillac people at Fort Dodge. The
Others were Miss Flossie Maricle Of
Duncombe and Leon Webster of Fort
Dodge" At this moment the young
man, becoming almost exhausted
added, "If there's anything else you
want to know telephone the Cadillac
Auto Company at Fort Dodge" Aside
from this no information could be
cleaned from the injured young
man. He could say no more and has
been in an unconscious condition
since.
Miss Maricle is well known in this
city, she being the daughter of Da-
vid Maricle, a pioneer hotel proprie-
tor of Duncombe She has held the
position of postmistress of Duncombe
for some time and was one of the
most popular young ladies of the vi
cinity in which she lived.
Friends Of the young men who ar
rived in the city this morning
say that they left their homes in
Fort Dodge at about z O'Clock last
evening without saying where
they were going. Young Webster is
but twenty years Of age and resided
with his parents in that city. He
was an employee of the McQuilkin
Furniture Company. Mr.. Butler al
SO lived with his folks in Fort Dodge
and was probably % years of age.
Both young men are said to have
been well known and popular young
felioxs. in ethsir aaomeseity g
The automobile was found this
morning to be total wreck. Three
of the wheels were torn completely
from the running gear, while the
body OF the car is mass of splint-
erS.
LATER.
The report that the east-bound
passenger on the Central was late
Friday night and that this might
have been the cause of the terrible
accident which took place in Dun
combe, was a mistake, the report no
doubt growing out of the fact that
the train stopped at Duncombe for
some time following the collision
and was therefore over an hour late
in reaching this city. Col. Hyatt
says the impact of the train and the
auto was not felt In the least by
those upon the train, in fact, the
passengers did not realize anything
unusual had happened until they
backed up to the depot when the
awful catastrophe was made known.
Saturdays Fort Dodge Chronicle
gives the following particulars of
the accident:
Miss Flossie Maricle of Duncombe
and Leon Webster of this city are
dead and James Butler, also Of this
city, is lying at the Webster City
hospital in nrecarious condition, as
the result Of having been struck by
Illinois Central passenger train No.
B, at Duncombe last night.
Although just exactly how the ac-
cident happened cannot be learned,
as the only people who were at the
scene were the three victims, 1t is
thought that carelessness and side
curtains on the auto had a great deal
to do with the fatalities which oc-
CURED. Webster did not die in
stantly. but was taken to the hos
pital at Webster City where he died
thirty minutes later.
Residents of Duncombe say that
they heard the crash which was fol-
lowed by scream which could be
heard all over town. They went to
the rescue and picked up the body of
Miss Maricle and helped the train
crew put the two men on the train
and take them to Webster City. Miss
Maricle Is the daughter of Mayor
David Maricle of Duncombe.
II Is thought that the reason But
ler was not killed was that he was
driving and therefore in the front
part of the car. When the train
struck the auto it hit 1t In the rear
part carrying away the back seat, in
which Miss Maricle and Mr.. Webster
were sitting. Butler was thrown to
the ground when the car was hit.
Miss Flossis Maricle was born in
Lshish August :. lss7. whom Ave
N 80 etsf