The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-06-19
w. B. Crawford, IS, Dies
at Kenosha Hospital
This Morning.
IS lit AT ZION
Steps in Front of Fast North
Shore Train; Death Comes
Is Minutes Later.

William B. Crawford, 85 years old,
died at the Kenosha hospital at 7.55
a. m. today, 10 minutes after being
struck by the north-bound Badger
State limited of the North Shore road
at the Twenty first street crossing in
Zion. Charles s. Crawford, son,
employed at the Nash plant here, ar
rived at the hospital just after his
father had died.
Mr. Crawford was one of the early
pioneers of Zion, moving there with
his family from Indiana % years ago.
Apparently the old man was making
his morning trip to market when the
accident happened. He was carrying
a market basket From his home at
1911 Horab avenue, he was forced TO
cross the tracks to get to the bust
ness district. Due to his advanced
age he was hard of hearing and ac-
cording to the story told by the train
crew, walked onto thestracks when the
fast train was less than 100 feet away.
Leaps for Safety.
The engineer of the train, realizing
the situation, slammed on the ,emer-
gency air and simultaneously reached
for the whistle. Startled by the blast,
the old man glanced up to see the
train bearing down upon him. He at
tempted to leap to safety, but to late
to avoid being struck. He was thrown
clear by the force of the impact. The
train ground to a stop a few feet fur
ther Members of the crew immedi-
while the engineer ran back to the
Zion station and phoned the Kenosha
officials to order an ambulance and to
notify DR.. A. J. Randall, the company
physician.
There was no clue to his identity.
This was discovered by accident. As
he was being moved from the train
to the Hanson ambulance which was
waiting at the station, local which
had caught up to the fast train while
it was stopped at Zion, and which had
been following a short distance behind
on the run to Kenosha, began discharg-
ing its passengers.
One of the men employed at the
Nash plant here, who lives in Zion,
recognized Mr. Crawford and immune
diately telephoned his son, charles,
who was at work at the plant at the
time. The son rushed to the hospital,
but did not arrive before his father
died. He ordered the body removed
to the Hansen undertaking parlors.
Is Badly Crushed.
According to DR.. Randall; death was
due to- fracture of the skull, the frac-
ture of all of the ribs on the right
side, which punctured the right lung
and liver, together with shock Mr..
Crawford did not regain consciousness
before he died.
In his pocket he had several hundred
dollars in currency. Police say that
the old man did not believe in banks
and carried his money with him.
The Twentyfirst street crossing is
only four blocks from the Zion sta
ton and the regular trains travel very
slowly through there. The Badger,
however, does not stop at Zion, and it
is believed that Mr.. Crawford may have
misjudged the speed at which the train
was approaching.
/ He was born April 10, 1888 in In
diana, moving to Zion, % years ago
when the city was under the leader
ship of Alexander Dowie.
In addition to his son Charles, with
whom he lived. he is survived by Fred
S. and Mrs. Alice Hill, both of Zion,
Harry c., of Elgin, Ill.,, Mrs. Clara
Gunner of Kuhston, H., and Mrs. Ma
BILE Bergman, of Glen Ellen, III.