New Ulm review., 1922-01-11
C0TTLlEB SCHMIDT
ACCIDENT VICTIM
PROMINENT NEW ULMITE is
CRUSHED TO DEATH AT
EAGLE MILL.
CAUGHT BETWEEN FREIGHT
CAR AND WALL OF THE
ENGINE ROOM.

A terrible accident occurred at the
Eagle Mill in this city, Thursday
morning at about o'clock, when Gott-
leb Schmidt, foreman at the big mill
warehouse, was crushed to death be-
tween freight car and the north
corner of the engine room building.
No one witnessed the sad occurrence,
and at first it was believed that Mr..
Schmidt had been stricken with apo
plexy, as there were no marks on his
body, aside from minor bruises on the
left side of his face, evidently caused
by contact with the brick wall of the
structure while the body fell to the
ground.
Saw Prostrate Body.
Ed. C. Veeck, superintendent of the
mill, happened to look out OF a second
story window, shortly after 9 o'clock.
He Immediately summoned William
Marks, foreman of the loading depart
ment, and they hurried down to in
vestigate. At about the same time,
Joseph G.. Domeier, an employe in one
of the mill elevators, also observed the
body of man, whom he did not
recognize, lying near the corner OF the
engine room. He arrived at the spot
about the same time as did Messrs.
Veeck and Marks, and assisted these
gentlemen in carrying Mr.. Schmidt
into the office, where efforts were made
to resuscitate the body, as it was be-
lieved that Mr.. Schmidt had been sud
denly stricken while going from the
office building to the warehouse. Dr..
T. F. Hammermeister was summoned,
but when he arrived, life was extinct.
Accidental Death Established.
The remains were taken to Forster's
undertaking establishment, where
closer examination revealed apparent
fatal internal injuries. AS result,
an autopsy was performed Thursday
afternoon by DR.. O. C. Strickler, as
sisted by Coroner DR.. G. F. Relneke,
in the presence of the local medical
men, 1t was found that Mr.. Schmidt S
right shoulder was dislocated and that
every rib in his body was fractured IN
one or more places. Coroner Relneke
conducted an inquest before coroner's
jury composed of the following SIX
gentlemen: William H. Bierbaum,
John Franta, John c.. Siebenrunner,
Herman Stegemann, William Durbahn
and August Thiede.
After examining several witnesses,
the jury deliberated for short time
and then brought in verdict to the
effect that death was due to an accident
by Mr.. Schmidt being crushed between
a freight car and the engine room wall
of the Eagle mill while switching wa
being done on the M. & St. L. spur
track
The inquest witnesses were examined
by County Attorney W. T. Eckstein
and Attorney Henry H. Flor.
Track Close to Building.
Several of the witnesses testified
that the distance between an ordinary
freight car, standing on the spur-track
and the wall of the engine room at the
point where the accident occurred, is
only about 13 inches, and that it is
impossible for man to get through the
opening, except by going sideways
All were agreed that it is dangerous
place.
DR.. Strickler's testimony revealed
that Mr.. Schmidt's chest was terribly
crushed. Blood filled the left side o
the chest cavity, result of rupture
of the left lung and pulmonary artery
Some of the ribs protruded internally
Switching Crew Testifies.
Conductor Frank Cruise, Him
Brakeman Gust Olson, Head Brake
man Paul Rick, Engineer Math
Sharrian and Fireman Ruben Webster
the members of the crew which did tn
switching at the mill Thursday morn
Ing, were Cdllcu dS WlCIieSoCo. uS
testified that they had arrived her
from Winthrop shortly after 8 o'clocl
and about half an hour later went t
the mill to pull several cars, loade
with flour, up onto the main tracl
None Of the switching crew saw M
Schmidt, either just prior to or follow
ing the accident, and they did ne
know that he had been killed until n
turning for more loaded freight cal
some time later. ...,.
Was Unusually Spry.
George L. Schmidt, son of the d.
ceased, who is employed in the Eag
mill office, and other mill employt
who have known Mr.. Schmidt ft
many years, testified that he was III
usually spry and active for man
his age. He enjoyed excellent healt
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