The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-08-28
BISMARCK BOYS
ARE CAUGHT ON
TRACKS n. P.
Fred Wilmonvsky and Herbert
M0rtensen Live but Short
Time After Accident
WITNESSED BY MANY
Passengers in Other Automo-
biles Horrified to See Boys
: Drive in Front of Train !,
WITNESSED BY MANY

UIleS 11OITllleu 10 Dee boys
Drive in Front of Train =
Apparently unaware of their
danger, Herbert Mortnsen and
Fred G, Wylmovsky of Bis.
marck drove directly in front
Of Northern Pacific passenger
train No. Z Sunday afternoon
at the crossing between the
Missouri river and Mandan in
plain sight of a number of
horrified people. Both were
fatally injured, Mortnsen liv-
ing but about a half hour after
being received in St. Alexius
hospital, Bismarck, and Wyl-
movsky only a few minutes
after he was taken to the Dea-
coness hospital in Mandan.
The accident happened shortly be-
fore 4 o'clock Sunday as the boys
we're returning from Mandan to Bis
marck. The N. P. train was going,
west, and was late. It was moving
down the incline from the river
bridge into Mandan. Glen Lonnie,
driver of q taxi, had seen the ap-
proach of the train and stopped.
There were other cars behind the
taxi.
The, coupe, carrying Mortensen and
Wilmovsky swung around the cars,
with the former driving. Lonnie,
who saw the approaching train, yell
ed at the boys. Wilmovsky waived
his hand, but apparently did not catch
the words Of the warning. Mortnsen
apparently did not hear Lonnie's
warning. They were driving only at
q fair rate Of speed and Is they went
up the incline at the crossing their
speed slackened perceptibly. Had
they seen the train they could have
speeded up and avoided the collision,
witnesses say.
Almost Across Track
w. H. Machie, one of those who
helped pick up the boys, said that
the car was almost across the track,
that it missed the pilot Of the engine
but that cylinder head on the en-
gine caught the car. 1t was carried
and hurled probably fifty feet from
the crossing. The car was demolish-
ed, the top being almost literally torn
into bits. One of the boys was
thrown a short distance from the
car, and the other was lying across
the demolished front of it, when
picked up. Both were breathing.
Among those who assisted in pick
ing up the boys and sending them to
hospitals were R. B. Loubek Of Bis
marck, who brought Mortnsen to
Bismarck in his car, H. L. Dahners,
J. E. Melton, Glen Lonnieand W. H.
Machine in another car took Wilmov-
sky to the Desconess hospital.
The accident deeply affected many
other autoists who saw the boys
drive in front Of the train. Two
girls who were in the taxi tainted in
succession and then became hysteri-
cal. News of the disaster quickly
spread and many friends rushed
either to the scene or to the hos
pitals. -a,s+,:
According to Glen Lonnie the
whistle or bell was not sounded by
the railroad train as it approached
the crossing. There is clear view
Of the track to the curve, however.
Some have advanced the theory that
dust obscured the vision Of the
driver.
Both Terribly Injured
Wilmovsky's back was broken, 9
leg was broken, hole crushed in
the back Of his head. His face was
marked only by cut over the eye.
Physicians said that the death Of
Mortensen was caused by fracture
and concussion of the skull. AL
though he suffered bruises on all
parts Of his body, it was the frac-
ture of the skull that caused his
death, they said.
Mortensen was 20 years and 9
months old, and had been in Bis
marck for a year and a half, work
ing at Murphy's barbershop on
Wilmovsky was % years of age
and had been in Bismarck about five
years, first attending business col
lege, then working at the First Ma
tional Bank, and for about the last
three years had been bookkeepper
for the O. N. Durham Lumber Com
pany. Both boys came from the
northern part Of the state and were
roommates in Bismarck at the home
Of G. G. Beithon, 8 Thayer steet.
The father, brother and brother
n-law of Mortensen arrived in Bis
marck during the night and expect
% take the body to Gardena, Bottl-
neau county, for burial today or to-
morrow. Herbert Mortensen was the
ION of Mr.. and Mrs. H. c. Mortensen,
who live in Gardena, and operate a
arm near there. They had three
children. William, a daughter, Mrs.
Anna Boltz and Herbert, their
child. Herbert had work