The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-04-17
August wagner, Mis !: "Trip;
Wheels Crush Q, Sc
TRIED TO MOUNT CART
Apparatus Was Responding to
Alarm; Man Died In Doc
tors Office we

While attempting to board the
hook and ladder truck, Just after It
was driven out Of the FIRE station
on South Second street yesterday
afternoon about 4:40 O'Clock, August
Wagner, Jr., long known as vol.
unteer fireman, missed his grip, slip
ped. fell and was fatally crushed
under the rear wheel. s
The apparatus had been driven out
In response to an alarm calling the
department TO put out a grass Are
on the hill back OF Seventh street.
Quite a number Of people had hur.
ried to the street in front Of the
station, as Is almost invariably the
case, when an alarm Is sounded. Otto
Throdahl, who was driving the hook
and ladder truck felt the shock and
jar as IL ran over the man and
looked back, but he did not realize
what had happened. though he saw
that the man had fallen. The vehicle
was driven right on to the scene of
the fire. which itself proved Of no.
great consequence. -
Apparatus Weighs Tons. a.
The apparatus, with the men on Il,
weighed between three and four tons
and the wheel struck the man with
terrific force. He fell on his face
and the tire seemed to cut its way
right into his body, as It ran over
the region Of the heart and part Of
the head. When the vehicle passed.
the still living though probably un.
conscious body. drew itself together
as IL In an attempt to rise on the
hands and knees. -
Sidney FftxIon Of 81. Clair hap
pened to be at hand at the moment
with an automobile. and together
with two Mankato boys. Ralph Mac.
beth and Jack Martin. Jr.. he iiftsd
the dying man into the automobile,
and hurrietd him TO the Office Of DR..
c. J. Holman, when the elevator was
entered the man was stili gasping
and life was not extinct untip he was
In the Doctors Office.
Inquest 10 Unnecessary.
Coroner Liedloff was called and the
body was removed to the undertaking
rooms Of Lamm q LAndkamer. DR..
Liedloff at once decided that the
case was so clearly an accident on
the part OF the victim that Il would
be unnecessary to hold either an
inquest or postmortem examina-
ton.
August Wagner. Jr, was born In
Mankato. October 1. 1881. His princi..
pal employment was that Of porter
in various retail liquor establish.
ments, but he took great interest In
the doings Of the IRE department,
and almost invariably. on hearing
the bell, would make Q rush for the
station. mount one Of the vehicles,
and go with the regulars to help
fight the blaze He was not, however
a regularly enrolled member Of any
Of the fremen's organizations, either
professional or volunteer.
Lived With His Parents.
Mr.. Wagner lived at the home OF
his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. August
Wagner. ST.. s23 North Fourth street,
with the exception Of the habit he
had Of sleeping ct the fire station.
so as to be ready 70 90 with the
fremen In response to any Of the
night calls. He was unmarried, but
Is survived by q large family Of
brothers and sisters. The brothers
are Henry. regular fireman at the
central station; Rudolph, William
and Albert. all in the employ Of the
widell company, the FIRST two being
on the road, and the other q stone
mason; and Herman, q machinist,
of Minneapolis. The sisters are Mrs.
Adolph Bernhard of Minneapolis,
Mrs. W. r. Carrcn Of waseca, and
Miss Esther Wagner. living with her
parents.
The Funeral Arrangements.
Funeral ARRANGEMENTS win be made
by the Fire Department Relief AZ.
sociation. at special meeting to be
held for the purpose this evening.
The family win not set the time
until this association has acted.
Though Mr.. Wagner was not 3
member Of this body. the orsaniss-
tion win take action in the same
manner az II he had been.
Ben Bangerter. one OF the firemen,
said yesterday that II was the rule
Of the department. not to have any
people mount the vehicle when IN
motion. He showed how on that
very day one man had attempted
to mount the automobile truck. when
1t was in motion. and had caught q
loose handle, which turned with his
weight. II was with difficulty that the
man was saved from falling under
the wheel. Mr.. Bangerter said the