Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-04-11
LEAPS 100 FEET
TO HIS DEATH
Peter c. Blank, Who Installed the
Machinery in Webster City
Power Plant, Suicides.
TOOK LIFE IN BURLINGTON
Will be Remembered by Many Who
Became Acquainted With Him
in This City.
TOOK LIFE IN BURLINGTON

Installed the engines, dynamos. etc
lin Webster City's new electric ligh
and power plant about four year
ago, recently took his life in Bur
lington, in which city he was em
ployed by the Murray, Iron Works
from whom Webster City purchase,
the machinery for our new powe
[plant. Mr.. Blank made many friend
while working here who will hea
with hegret of his nntimely takin,
uff. The Burlington Gazette give
the following account of the terrible
tragedy:
Falling 100 feet from the secont
story window of the Trans Mississip
pi Grain Co. elevator, Peter G. Blanl
was instantly killed at 10:45 thi!
morning. The body, hurtlinl
through the air, struck small shet
adjacent to the elevator with such
force that roof boards were shatter.
led, and then the mangled remains
rebounded into the air and fell TWEEN.
ty feet to the earth, *
The act was observed by only one
witness. Charles Gustafson, who was
lstanding on the first floor of the ele-
|yator, and he was unable. to call out
or reach the man in suficient time
to prevent the death leap.
Blank was a travelling machinist
and erecting engineer for the Muir
ray Iron Works, and bore a high rep
ute throughout the city. Friends are
at loss to account for the act, but
believe previous i'll health was the
motive. He had been travelling for
the company, and had returned to
Burlington from Des Moines this
morning. He appeared in good
health.
Charles Gustafson, weighman at
the elevator, was the last man to
see Peter Blank alive. Gustafson had
stepped down the stairway leading
from the floor above.
Tom Darnell, of the grain COM
pany Office force, saw the body fall
ling through the air. There was no
cry for help, and the body fell head
first. It struck the shed with thud,
breaking through the roof boards,
and bounded off onto the ground,
striking head first.
H. Aabel, grain inspector, was the
first man to reach the side of Mr..
Blank, and he states that death en-
sued as he seized the hand OF the
man. Coroner Prugh, who arrived
later, identified the remains BY
of a prayer book in the pock-
ct, and this Identification was later
by Fire Chief Blank at the
morgue.
The deceased arrived from Des
Moines early this morning on the
Rock Island train. He had been in
that city several days installing
Corliss engine for the Murray Iron
works. On the same train was Ed
Denz, foreman of the Corliss shop.
The men were in different coaches
and did not meet until they left the
train in this city.
Both boarded the same street car,
and to all appearances Mr.. Blank
seemed to be in good health and
spirits. He went to his home, left
his suitcases and told his wife that
he intended going down town for a
short time. a-.
The deceased was born in Burling-
ton fifty-one years ago, and during
his entire business career had been
employed by the Murray Iron Works.
Three years ago he suffered severely
from trouble with his teeth and was
to undergo an operation.
Pain and worry. resulting from this
may have been responsible
for this mornings tragedy.