Evening journal., 1919-09-03
CHOSE DEATH With
Wife Under TRAIN

CHICAGO, Sept. 3-Death beneath the
grinding wheels Of a locomotive was
the deliberate choice Of William Ten
ner, Of this city, rather than desert his
wife, held a prisOrer in the path Of the
onrushing flier.
Although his self-sacrifice orphaned
three children. and deprived her Of an
only son, his mother said "he did we'll" 4"
She will care for the children.
While crossing the Northwestern
Railroad near their home, Monday
night, Mrs. Tanners foot was caught
in a groove between one OF the rails
and a plank. A fast train was within
800 feet Of her. Her husband struggled
frantically to pull the foot loose.
John Miller, the crossing flagman.
came to his assistance and both work
ed in desperation. Then there was a
roar and a rush. The watchman leaped
aside, but was hit by the steam box
and seriously hurt.
Tanner gave up the struggle In free
his wife and elapsed her in his arms
as the big locomotive struck. The en-
gineman had shut off steam and used
tn emergency brakes, but the train
was heavy and its speed was not mate
rally reduced, until It had passed. Hus-
band and wife We're carried fifty feet.
and mangled
Badly hurt as he was Miller managed
to tell the tale Of the tragedy.
1T was about $50 O'Clock" he said.
when the Tanners reached the cross
ing. / had signalled the vehicle traf-
flc TO stop. but they could have easily
but for the fearful thing that
happened. Mrs. Tanner stopped on the
southbound track and cried. MY foot
S caught II was wedged between the
'ail and sunken board.
The man tried TO pull the foot out
md then called to me. The electric
headlight was shining on us. We both
pulled until the woman tainted. / said.
My God, man. It is no use
Try again. shouted Tanner. we
must save her,"
The locomotives big electric eve had
low brought them into direct focus
The crossing on which the tragedy was
'eing enacted was as brilliantly illumi- !
ated as a stage.
The roar Of the train and the vibra- !
ion Of the rails served TO revive Mrs !
Tanner. She half raised herself. and
allied to her husband:
'Will, l don't think you can save
me-"
He could not hear her and bent over
er. She repeated her words and added |
''Will. leave me. The babies and |
our mother"
The train was not more than ffty
eet away. Tanner. half kneeling.
laced his arms about her and drew |
er close to him. She put her arms
bout his neck
Il stay with you, Mary" he said.
nd closed his eyes.
Miller even then made one last effort
, ssve both. He seized Mrs. Tanner
y the shoulders and pulled with all
is strength His efforts were futile.
ut he continued them. and when the
Hot Of the locomotive struck the
ouple and hurled them nifty feet. he
'as carried along with them.
BY a miracle he escaped death, but
e sustained a fracture OF the right
-m, and his left leg was so badly
'ushed It was necessary to amputate 10
Tanner was a young man and a rail-
lad cashier. Both his father and step
ther were killed by trains and HIS
other had often warned him 10 he
ost careful. His mother. Mrs. w. D.
lattley, said: i
MY first husband was killed while .
'osslng the tracks in front Of a train
Mechanicsville. n. Y. My second hus-
md was run down and killed by a
ain in Albany. and now II Is my son.
m glad he chose 10 die that way. II
! had lived, he would have gone mad.
Will do the best ] can for the chill
en-"