The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-12-20

man. Many times some lowly
work. attacked with knowledge that
ones life IL at stake, 10 save the per-
son or property OF others shows mp
the heroes just as wildly as does the
grim resoluteness exhibited upon the
feld OF battle.
Out In Marion, Kansas. they are
talking OF the heroism and self sacri-
Zee OF one who. In his every day con-
tact with his neighbors In Crystal
Falls never displayed that heroism
that we all know now that he was
capable OF.
The man whom the people OF Mar
ION, Kansas are talking about Is the
late Hugo Koepeke. whose remains
were laid at rest In the family ceme-
terry across the river last Tuesday af-
ternoon.
The particulars, which arrived from
Marion last Saturday, caused every
one who knew Hugo In his lifetime
10 exhibit a spark OF pride, mingled
with the general sorrow that was ap-
parent ON all sides over his untimely
taking on and the knowledge that a
family Of four small children viii
miss a fathers care.
The story as told in the letters re-
eeived Is that Mr.. Koepeke just hap
pened TO visit Marion, using II as a
sort OF filler" among the towns OF
his route, on his way TO a larger
town, He was travelling for Chica-
60 concern and the letters received
from his employers are filled with
praise OF the mans proficiency in his
work, of his general character and In
dustry. He visited some of the deal
ers in Marion that evening and one
Of them was so impressed with the
salesmanship Mr.. Koepeke exhibited
that he wrote to the headquarters OF
the company to find out his name
1 and the particulars of his home life.
! During the mig ht the city auditor
ium caught fire. Mr.. Koepeke was in
bed. He got up. dressed and on going
to the hotel lobby he found three 9TH
er travelling statesmen there discuss
Ing the fire which was close to the
hotel. He induced these companions
TO turn In and help the people OF the
place CT Is a small town. fight the
fire. During the progress of the work
1 It became necessary to take hose
into a particularly difficult place and
volunteers were called for. Mr.. Koe-
peke. agreed to lead and was doing
excellent work when an alarm came
that the wall was about to collapse.
He and his companions attempted TO
reach safety but a high board fence
prevented their getting clear of the
falling wall which caught and crush
ed out the life OF Mr.. Koepeke, ser
iously injured two others and slight
ly injured the fourth man.
The people of Marion Immediately
set about TO comfort the injured men
but their efforts for Mr.. Koepeke were
of no avail; he died in a few hours.
The others will probably recover.
A subscription was taken up 20 de-
fray all OF the expenses OF the funer-
al and II is probable that there will
be something over for the wife and
four children left behind.
The remains arrived on Monday and
were buried on Tuesday from the M.
II. church OF this city. A very large
number OF friends OF the diseased
turned out to pay their last tribute
The letters that have been received
frsm Mr.. Koepeke's employers, his
associates on the road, his customerf
and the people OF Marion, are q reyei-
alton for they speak only In words OF
glowing tribute to the work OF the de-
ceased all OF the time that he haf
been employed by those for whom h,
was working when killed.
His many friends In Crystal Falls
extend TO the sorrowing family their
sincere sympathy.
The deceased leaves wife and four
children. Hugo. years old; Willie, 4
years; Crystal. years and Eugene,
2years.
Besides his immediate family he has
sister, Mrs. Joseph Bittncr, n step
sister. Miss Flora and a grandfather.
Carl Buenger. all living In Crystal
Falls.
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