The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-10-20
STRUCK BY TRAIN;
dies HERE TO-DAY
vi. j. FARRELL CARRIED on EN-
CINE FRONT AND THROWN
INTO LAKE.
AUTO STOPS ON TRACK
VIEW OBSCURED BY SIDE CUR
TAINS-VICTIM HAD COT
TON IN HIS EARS.

hurt so badly that he died here to-
day, when his automobile in which he
was riding shortly after Z o'clock this
morning was struck by a Milwaukee
freight train near the northwest
shore of Lake Madison, about three
and a half miles southeast of tho
city. The train, which was travel
ing at about twenty-five miles an
hour, struck the automobile in the
middle, tearing the machine in two.
Mr.. Farrell and the front part of the
automobile were carried on the pilot
of the engine, a distance of approx
mately 200 feet, when, at a small
railway bridge the man and part of
his wrecked car fell into the lake.
Mr.. Farrell was brought TO the city
in the caboose of the train which
struck the automobile, and taken to
the Madison hospital. DR.. r. S.
Westaby, who was called, said this
morning that Mr.. Farrell had only
the faintest chance of recovery.
The mans injuries include a frac-
ture of the skull, a compound frac-
ture of the jaw, a broken arm and a
fractured hip and leg. Although
semiconscious at times, the man did
not speak after he was picked up.
Death came at las o'clock this aft
ernoon.
Did Not See Train.
Mr.. Farrell, who is an organizer
for the Farmers Nonpartlsan league.
of Fargo. n. d., had left the city only
a few minutes before the accident oc-
Cured. He was driving south and
the car should have crossed the track
diagonally. partly facing the oncom
ing northwest bound train. For a
considerable distance to each side OF
the crossing there is a clear view OF
the railway. The theory is advanced
that Mr.. Farrell's view was probably
obscured by the side curtains of his
car, which had been put in place as
a protection against a bitter wind.
AS a protection against recurrence OF
!, earache. both his ears We're filled
with cotton. 1t is suggested that his
attention TO the train was attracted
when it vas too late TO stop his car,
which may have slid on the icy road
way. The engineer and fireman say
the car stopped dead across the track.
carried on Engine.
The rear part Of the ar, an Over
land, was cut from the fore part, and
was thrown a considerable distance
to one side. The front of the car.
with Mr.. Farrell pinned to it, re-
manned on the pilot. 1t was feared
that the man would roll onto the
rails and be ground 10 pieces before
the train could be stopped. After
having been carried some 200 feet
according to the estimate of William
Rands. of Sioux City, conductor in
charge of the train, the man and cal
wreckage toppled into the lake, tho
surface of which is a dozen feet Or Sc
below the railway bridge.
Mr.. Farrell exhibited no signs o
r life, and it was feared he had beer
killed outright. The water at tht
spot was only between a foot and {
! couple of feet deep. The train crew
+ carried the unconscious man into th'
caboose, and the train was rushed in
/ to the city.
l Feared Others Were Present.
Immediately the injured mar hat
been taken to the hospital, Conducto.
IldHuo lHSllAulCA Ill lNtolA5aAl O
with a view to a~scertaining whethe-
there was more than one person il
the automobile. Owing to the un
, expectedness OF the catastrophe anG
the fact that the automobile cur
tains were on, A. Cropley, of Siou,
City, the engineer, did not see how
o many people were in the machine
1t was at first feared that there wert
4 one or more persons with Mr.. Farrell
! and that they had disappeared be
meath the surface of the water. TIL
r engineer said the engine whistle W.
q blown and the bell rung, but that Mr.
! Farrell gave no indication Of hearing
| News of the accident was broker
to Mrs. Farrell at her rooms. in tn
: home of George Page, West Seventh
o street. Her husband had bid he
goodby a couple of hours before
Y Mr.. Farrell, who has made his head
: quarters in Madison for about tw'
months. and Mrs. Farrell, have room
. ed at the Page home since their ar
rival. c.. E. ~Stainbrook, who also rep
\ resents the Farmers Nonpartisa,
league, and came here with the Far
rells, was in Howard when the acci
dent occurred. He was notified o
the accident by telephone, and al
rived here at about noon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Farrell came her
from Fargo, N. D., where they ha
made their headquarters for sewers
months. Their permanent home Is |
Des Moines, Ia. Besides his wife
Mr.. Farrell is survived by four grow
sons, all of whom reside in De
Moines. They are John A., Charles