Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-11-19
Met DEATH IN
TRAIN WRECK
Great Northern Trainman In
stantly Killed. - Body
Brought Here

Charles f. Williams son-in-law of
Mr.. and Mrs. J. +. Cass, Of this city,
was instantly killed in rear-end
train collision on the Great Northern
road at NashWauk, near Hibbing,
Mimi, last Thursday morning.
Mr. Williams and John Hurley, con
ductor of supply train, were i'll the
cabOose on the rear end OF the train,
which was standing on Il trestle, un
loading oil. An engine drawing a ca
bo0se and "dozer." or snowplow, ran
up behind them at a rate of speed that
precuded the stopping of the engine
in time to avoid striking the supply
train. though the engineer applied the
air. and the engine hit the cabOOSe,
wrecking it and throwing it, with the
car next to it. off the. treStle. Williams
and Hurley went over with the cars,
distance of 80 feet. and undoubtedly
met instant death.
1t is the suppOSitiOn that the men
sensed their danger from the vibration
produced by the swiftly approaching
engine and attempted to mount the car
ahead and escape, but were caught on
the platform of their cabo0se when the
engine struck.
The responsibility for the accident
seems to rest on the engineer who ran
into the supply train, as his engine was
not under control and was within the
yard limits.
Mr.. Williams was "a years Of age,
having been born April % 1886. He
had been in the employ of the Great
Northern for nine years, the last SIX
years as conductor most of the time.
At the time of the accident, however,
ne was acting as q brakeman, as many
Of the conductors do when traffic
slows down and men are, let off as the
iron Gre freezes at the mines and dumps
which furnishes most of the employ
ment for railroad trainmen on the
division. Many brakeman are laid off
at this time Of year.
1t was on June II, 1910, that Mr..
Williams was united in marriage with
Miss May Cass in this city. They
went to Superior to reside, but more re-
Gently had made their home at Kelly
Lake. Mimi To this union two sons
were born. Kenneth CasS and Kermit
Charles. both Of whom preceded their
father in death. the demise of each be-
inc very sudden. The young widow is
Frustrated at the home Of her parents
here.
The remains were brought to Lady
smith Saturday evening. following a
funeral service at Kelly Lake. and the
funeral was held from the Cass home
on PederSon-av, Sunday afternoon.
Twenty members of the brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen accompanied their
deceased brother in a special car from
Superior. and their ritual service Was
used in the funeral service here, w. A.
Mason. Of Kelly Lake. acting as chief
representative of the order. The pail
bearers were Charles Beleh, Bernard
Be1nstrOm. r. j. COnnOr, Fl. l.. Lane,
f. u. We're and c. E. Bartlett The re-
mains were laid to rest beside those OF
the two little sons in Riverside ceme-
terry.
The Out-Of-tOwn relatives who came
to attend the funeral were Gust Will
Jams. father Of deceased, and w. ALI
Quist, Stacy Mimi: B. II. Williams.
Mrs. Minnie Hagberg and Mrs. n.
Carlson. Minneapolis; Mr.. and Mrs. r.
J. Williams and Mr.. and Mrs George
Hanson. Superior Mr.. and Mrs c. j.
Hall. Duluth: Mrs II. 7. Moss, Worth
ington: and Mrs r. J. Comor. Kelly
Lake