The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-01-09
|MAN-TRAP CROSSING
| COSTS HUMAN LIFE
E. N. Hamilton, Superintend-
ent Osakis Public Schools
Killed by C. N. Flyer
DEATH INSTANTANEOUS
Masonic Emblem Furnishes
Identification Clue-Was
Well Known

Royal Arch Mason, was the only
means of Identification found on
the body of a man killed by the
Great Northern train at the cross
ing on Highway No. in the west
ern part of the city Monday eve
ming about eight o'clock.
The victim was Edward N. Ham
ilton, superintendent of schools at
Osakis for the past % years.
Mr.. Hamilton was returning to
his home from St. Cloud where he
had taken his son, Edward, Jr.,
and couple of Osakis young la
dies, students in the Teachers Col
lege.
Mr.. Hamilton only had one good
eye and he was noted among his
friends for the careful manner in
which he drove his Buick sedan. A
speed of 80 miles an hour was very
fast for him.
The night was cold, and the car
did not have heater and he was
very well wrapped to keep warm.
No. 2, the Empire Builder on the
Great Northern, is due at Sank
Centre, but does not stop, at 7:16 P.
M. 1t was running a little over 40
minutes late this night.
It came laundering into Sank
Centre at approximately eight
o'clock. It is generally admitted
the the whistle sounded. Very
likely riding in closed car, well
wrapped Mr.. Hamilton did not
hear it.
There is a State Highway stop,
sign at the intersection of Walnut
and Third street approximately
200 feet east of the railroad cross
ing. On the railroad right-of-way,
if there is warning sign of any
character, the Herald editor did not
detect it Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Hamilton lost his life by a
flash. He was almost ac;~oss when
the laundering monster struck the
rear of his sedan and his life was
! snuffed out in the twinkling of an
eye.
The body of the car was almost
completely removed, broken into a
thousand pieces.
J Probably every bone in Mr..
Hamilton's body above his hips
was broken.
The skull was completely cut
from right to left about two inches
above the forehead. Bones of the
head were almost protruding
through the skin above the eyes.
Otherwise there was not a discern
IDLE bruise on the body.
With his broken condition the
watch found on his person had not
stopped.
The train, very heavy passeng-
er carrying perhaps ten coaches,
came to complete stop in about a
I length and a half. Chief of Po-
lice Joseph Miller, who was at the
depot at the time, started for the
train when it stopped. He met a
member of the engine crew who
told him they had struck a man at
the crossing.
Mr.. Miller fastened to the scene
of the accident and was Mortified
at the sight which met his eyes.
Help was hastily summoned and
the body was removed to the Sank
Centre Funeral Service parlor.
A search of the body failed to
disclose any papers of identified
ton. There was a pocket knife. On
the handle was Blue Lodge Ma
sonic emblem with the initials "E.
N. H." There was also a purse con-
tanning something over $3.50 in cur
rency and change and a Masonic
Penny" containing the inscription
"Sauk Centre Chapter No. 40, Roy
al Arch Masons." In the center
was thes Mark" "E. N. H." The
records of the Chapter were being
investigated to identify the dead
man.
The coat bore a trademark of
Heterogeneous" Osakis, and
the glasses case was that furnished
by an Osakis optometrist. The Her
aid editor called Editor Bronson,
of Osakis. At the time it was the
impression Mr.. Hamilton was tray-.
cling east. The man was describ-
ed, his car was described and the
initials were given. After thought
Mr.. Bronson said the description
Tailed with Mr.. Hamilton. The
Herald editor knew Mr.. Hamilton
and after given the lead by Mr..
Bronson resemblance could be
traced even though the features
were out of shape. Supt. H. A..
Falk was called and even he, an
old friend. did not at first recog-
nize him. After a careful survey
he pronounced the dead man as the
Osakis superintendent. About this
time the naturalization from the
Masonic records positively cleaned
up the Identification.
The remains were taken to Osa-
kis Monday evening shortly be-
fore midnight
The impact Of the train and car
completely ruined the pilot or
"cow-catcher" on the engine, turn
ing it down and backward. The
train crew removed it before con-
tinuing the journey from this city
eastward. st,e ~
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