The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-09-10
Gate at Omaha Railroad Crossing Struck
Buggy Top and Team Ran
Away Quickly
From MONDAYS OaI,v.

From Mondays Daily.
Mrs. John Frankson of Waxahachie,
Texas. was dangerously injured in a
runaway accident on Main street a
little to the west of Front about nine
o'clock last evening. She either fell
or jumped out of the buggy in which
she was riding and struck her head
against the pavement. She was taken
first to the offices of Drs. J. w. and
Roy Andrews and later to the I'm
, manuel hospital. She was uncon-
scious when picked up. afterwards re-
gained consciousness, but this morn
ing again became unconscious. II was
feared that she was suffering from
hemmorhage OF the brain, AZ well as
concussion.
The accident was caused by the
sudden falling of the gate on the
south side OF Main street, -farth-
est to the east. The gate struck
! The top of the buggy. and frightened
the horse. In the front seat
we're Albin Peterson and his daugh-
ter. Miss Gertrude Peterson. In the
back seat were Mrs. Alvin Peterson
and Mrs. Frankson. The buggy was
being driven towards Front street.
having just crossed the bridge from
North Mankato. The horse dashed for
ward, but Mr.. Peterson held TO the
lines, and succeeded In regaining con-
/ troll of the animal. before reaching
Second street. Mrs. Peterson was
looking intently at the horse and Gid
not notice when Mrs. Frankson left
the buggy. No one seems to know to
certainty whether she jumped or
fell, but II Is generally thought that
she jumped. as nobody else was
thrown out. - -.
Mrs. Frankson Is about forty years
! OF age. With her two children she
| has been visiting at the Albin Peter
son home at 1874 Moreland avenue.
No Train Coming.
At the time of the accident, there
! was no train coming from either d.
rection and there was no occasion for
letting down the gates. This Is the
testimony of o. A. Olson. young man
living at 713 North Fourth street, and
also OF others. II was rather dark at
the time. Mr.. Olson says he heard
no gate bells ringing. He was stand
ing on Main street not Tar from the
i BdttS. ne uocS hut tHtuh any Dout
was fooling with the gates or trying
to pull them down. He thinks no
body was standing near them.
The gate that came down and broke
the buggy is readily detected. as quite
a piece is broken from IL.
Claus Lundquist, the Omaha road
master, started an investigation into
the circumstances of the accident as
soon as he learned Of t. He inter
viewed. among others. Charles III
barth, the gatekeeper. He was told
by Mr.. Zibarth that no train wagon
ing at the time I'm either direction. and
that no attempt was made by the
gatekeeper to move the gates at all.
IL was not done by him. IL seems. Mr.
Lundquist expresses great confidence
in Mr.. ZiSarth, whom he considers an
excellent man on the job.
| Miss Dorothy Anderson, 207 Lewis
street. remarked this morning that
Yesterday morning she noticed force
OF men at work on the gates. indicat-
ing that they had not been operating
just as they should.
Miss Ruth Lundquist. 2l3 Lewis
street. makes a still more interesting
statement. She says that Sunday
afternoon one of the gates nearest to
the bridge came down without any soc-
casion for 1t and narrowly missed an
automobile, which had just been
driven under the gates and upon the
! bridge on its sway over. to North Man
u kato. snIThat ishappened about ifive
NO clock iahAagtd.ilsw noliisoq IaionanT
u Mrs. Peterson. and Mrs Frankseu