Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-11
MELBOURNE PEOPLE LOSE LIVES
AS RESULT OF SHOCKING
CROSSING ACCIDENT.
6. PlscHEL AND WIFE AND
ERNEST LUcHER VICTIMS
Do Not See Approaching Fast Train
on Chicago Great Mestern-Mrs-
Pischel Killed Instantly and Her
Husband and Lucher Die Few Hours
Later at Local Hospital-Victims
Thrown Long Distances, and Auto Is
Reduced TO Spiinters.


stantly, when Chicago Great Western
No. 6, the Chicago passenger train,
struck an automobile on the highway
crossing in Melbourne at 1925 Mon
day night The victims were Mr.. and
Mrs. Ginther Pischel, Of Melbourne
and Ernest Lucher, the latter young
carpenter of the Laurel neighborhood
who was employed by Pischel.
Mrs. Pischel was killed instantly,
her back and neck being broken. Her
husband died after being brought by
the train to this city, as did also
Lucher. The men were brought here
by Drs L. H. Ferris and B. NJ. How
land, OF Melbourne, and removed to
the Deaconess hospital. Lucher died
at midnight and Pischel at l o'clock.
Victims Thrown Many Feet.
The victims Of the accident were on
their way in a new Ford sedan to the
Pischel farm, nine miles southeast OF
Melbourne They approached the
highway crossing just east OF the sta
ton without seeing the train from the
south, which does not stop at Mel
bourne. and was running at high
speed thirteen minutes late.
1t Is believed that Mr.. Pischel, who
was driving the car, failed to hear the
Of the train because Of being
in an enclosed car, and that his view
Of the track was INSTRUCTED by the
station and other buildings to the
south. The train hit the automobile
throwing 1t 100 feet or more,
and reducing 1t to splinters.
Mrs. P,schel was thrown beyond
the wreckage Of the car, landing
against a pile Of ties, Pischel and
Lucher landed fifty or more feet from
the crossing, Lucher striking against a
telegraph pole. Both men were in
iured internally. Pischel had his right
leg broken Just below the knee, and
his face was bruised. Lucher suffered
a compound fracture of the right leg.
Just below the knee; lacerated wound
over the left eye, where probably the
skull was fractured, and severe blow
over the right temple. There may also
have been a fracture here, but there
were no visible outward signs. Both
men died from the internal injuries re-
ceived.
Dr.. A. 3. Conaway, the local surgeon
for the railroad company. and DR.. r. r
Hansen dressed the injuries Of the men,
assisted by the Melbourne doctors
PischeIs Well Known.
The Pischels are well known in the
Melbourne vancleye-L neighbor-
hoods, where they have lived for many
years. Mr.. and Mrs. Pischel have
spent the twenty-three years Of their
married life on the farm southeast OF
until recently they left the
farm to go to Melbourne. Their home
in town, however. was not quite ready
for them, and they were staying at the
farm.
Before her marriage to Mr.. Pischel
Mrs. Pischel was the wife Of Adolph
Osterhasen. Mrs. Pischel was
born in Letpstc, Germany. and was 81
years old. She was married to MI.
Osterhagen in Germany, and came to
this country thirty-four years ago. set
Ting at Freeport, III. There Mr.. Oster-
hagen died twenty-seven years ago.
Six months after her husbands death
Mrs. Osterhagen came to this county,
living south of Melbourne and at
Laurel, and three and one-haf years
later became the wife of Mr.. Plschel.
Mrs. Pischel is survived by seven
children, four Of whom are by her first
marriage. They are August Oster-
hagen, who conducts a pool hall at
Melbourne; William. who is in the
service and stationed at Waco, Tex;
who runs a barber shop at
Baxter; and Mrs. Louise Appel. wife OF
c. Appel, four miles northwest OF
Laurel. The children by the second
marriage are Carl Pischel, who farms
the home place; and two twin daugh-
ters, Pauline, who Is at home, and Mrs.
Alvina Mann, the wife Of Floyd Mann,
four miles north of Laurel.
Mr.. Pischel was native Of Schwartz
burg, Germany, and was 50 years OF
age He came to this country twenty
seven years ago. remained in New
York City year, and then lived for
few years in Jasper county before he
took Mrs. Osterhagen as his wife.
Mr.. and Mre. Pischel were members
Of the German Reform church near
Baxter.
PiseheI Body to Melbourne.
The bodies Of Pischel and Lucher
were removed to the Pursel morgue.
where they were prepared for burial.
Pischers body was conveyed overland
to Melbourne during the forenoon.
Luchers body is being held here await
ing word from a sister.
Lucher Native Of Switzerland.
Lucher, who was native Of Switzer-
land, was Fl years old. He has Sis
ter, Miss Erma Lucher, living at IRE
mont, H. She has been notified OF her
brothers death. 1t is said that Luch-
~, fathI.c. Sc 81 officer in the Swiss
army, and that Lucher tried to enlist
in the American army but was not
accepted because he was an alien. For
some time the young man has made his
home with Charles Toedt, of Laurel.