The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-07-03

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Lafayette soanson, e:glty-Iwo years
old, was struck by the engine, and
hurled, together with his vehicle,
about twenty feet. where he lay un.
conscious for few minutes and then
expired.
The victim received the full force
OF the collision with the engine on
the right side Of the head, above
the ear, the skull being badly fac.
tured. His right leg was broken near
the hip. 1t is probsbie that no never
knew of his mishap, though he de,
liberately turned his wheel m front of
the locomotive, In an effort 10 get
over to the river bridge without wait.
ing for the train to get by. 1t Is
thought that he miscalcuiated the
speed of the train. This was Train
No. sol, arriving from winona at
1905 p. m. Fred Morgan was IN charge
OF the train.
Mr. Johnson was on his way 10
North Mankato from his home at
3l5 Poplar street He had come up to
the depot by way of Pike street. and
rode on the planking between the
Omaha and Northwestern tracks In
front OF the depot, just before he
turned in front Of the engine. About
fifty feet back Of him. also bound
for North Mankato and also on a
bicycle, was DR.. Edward T. Sites.
Or. Sites Cried Our Warnins.
we cannot make it, DR.. Sites
cried to Johnson, just before the train
reached the latter. The words were
lost. II lis doubtful whether Johnson
heard them at all. II he did, he did
not heed. them. .H.s re a". .a.
Johnson and Dr. Sites had been at
the Johnson home on Poplar street,
looking over some automobile tires,
which the doctor contemplated pur.
chasing. They both had errands In
North Mankato, and decided to ride
over there together. They rode very
fast for part of the distance. II
seemed to DR. r. NJ Dodds, whom they
passed at Pike and Cherry streets,
that they were racing. Mrs Johnson
was ahead. q nearly struck you,
didn't IT. the vigorous old man mer-
rfly cried to the doctor, just after
passing him, and making a curve over
to the Pike street sidewalk. ..
The tragedy took place before the
eyes Of a large number OF people,
who were gathered about the depot
mr. he H.
the place, they rushed to the spot
where the PROSTATE man lay senseless
but still breathing A few moments
later he breathed his last.
Word of the sad occurrence was
communicated to members of the
victims family by telephone, and
the body was taken to the under
taking rooms Of Morris 4 Kelly on
South Front street. a''t &, .a
Long a Resident Of Mankatc. 81
Mr. johnson was a resident OF
Mankato during the last fifty-four
years. During all of that time he fol-
lowed the trade OF a machinist. He
was pump-repairer for many years
He was very Industrious and thrifty,
and had accumulated some property
besides raising large family. He
was in active business, notwithstand.
ing his great age, and was wonder
fully vigorous. During the latter years
OF his life he did better financially,
than in his youth. Besides the prod
ucts Of his own labor. he drew a
pension from the government OF s12
a month, having served IN the army
during the Indian troubles. a.
a striking instance, showing his
remarkable health and strength at
such an age. Is shown I'm post
card received from his daughter, Mrs.
Robert Holcomb OF Rapid City, s. D.,
by Mankato.. members OF his family,
about a year ago, when Mr.. John
son was visiting there. The post card
has photograph OF Mr.. johnson
climbing to the very top OF Hang-
mans Hill at Rapid City, s. d.. and
the daughter wrote, He beat us all
to the top of the hill. and believe me,
II was some climb"
Was Mechanical Genius.
Mr.. Johnson was something of a
mechanical genius, as well as a
laborer. He invented two devices,
which he patented short time ago,
but had not yet placed on the market.
One Is a new kind of a. valve for an
automobile tire, so constructed that
II win let part Of the air out of the
tire In case OF expansion IN hot
weather, thus preventing the tire
from bursting. The other Is a buoy,
with other apparatus, so arranged
that the buoy viii float on the surface
OF the water when a ship goes down.
a cable playing out as long, as the
ship sinks. thus showing the exact
location OF the ship. ri. Johnson had
expected 10 get quite fortune from
these inventions. He also had in
mind perpeinal motion machine.
def<ing the unanimous declaration OF
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