The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-07-14
Lives of Five Snuffed Out
When Auto Meets Train
CONTINUED from Page One)

Martin Schneider, New Mum
ich, aged 81; Mrs. Henry j.
Schneider, MelrOse, aged 50;
Norbert Weisser, Melrose, aged
"a.
Mr.. Stengel was the father of
Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Henry
Schneider. Norbert Weisser was a
nephew of Martin Schneider.
The reports of the accident are
very conflicting. Ole Rosedahl, an
employee of the Great Northern,
was probably closest to being an
actual eye witness of the tragedy.
He was on the highway about 200
feet from the crossing when he
saw the Nash approaching at
fast rate of speed.
Mr.. Rosedahl stated to the Her
aid editor last evening that he did
not see the gas train coming but ne
had heard it. He knew it was
time for it and he was sure it was
close to the crossing. He stated
that he got near the center of the
pavement and endeavored to stop
the car as he felt an accident was
inevitable. He says an attempt
was made to stop but it could not
be negotiated.
At the point where the railroad
crosses the pavement there is a
clearance to the west of perhaps
$50 feet. The railway curves slight
ly back of a clump of trees at this
point.
Engineer VIM. Plankers stated to
the Herald editor Tuesday that he
had his whistle blowing full blast
before the train rounded the curve,
and was Mortified to see the APP
preaching car. He threw his
emergency on he said, but was too
close to the car and could not avert
the tragedy. The engineer said he
was travelling at a comparatively
slow rate of speed as he was ap-
preaching the city. Before the gas
train was brought to a full stop
it was 2S8 feet and 5 inches east
of the pavement crossing.
There is, naturally much discus
sion as to just how and where the
engine hit the car. The engineer
states that the driver made an at
tempt to turn parallel with the
track and was nearly off the end of
the planks, parallel with the rails,
at the side of the paving, when the
car crossed the track. The Nash
was struck with such force
that when it came to a stand
still the back was completely de-
molished and the front of the car
was facing the track from the OPP
posite side from where it crossed.
It is understood that the car was
being driven by Martin Schneider.
Riding in the front seat with him
was his father-in-law, Mr.. Stengel.
In the rear seat were the two
Schneider ladies, Norbert Weisser
and the little boy.
Mr.. Rosdahl was the first person
to reach the scene of the accident.
All of the adults were outside OF
the car at various distances, all
apparently dead. He could hear the
wailings of the little lad under the
wreckage of the car. With the aid
of a detective of the Northern Pa
cific who happened to be on the
train the car was lifted and the
little boy was picked up by the de-
tective and carried to the train.
The impact of the collision had
put the motor out of commission
and so the boy was brought back
to the scene of the wreck.
In the meantime Mr.. Stengel
showed signs of life and Mr.. Ros-
dahl commandered a passing car
and loaded the old gentleman and
the little boy into the car and took
them to the Long Hospital.
Very shortly after this DR..
Johnson arrived on the scene ana
a hasty examination disclosed that
three were dead but that a woman,
who proved to be Mrs. Henry j..
Schneider, was alive. She was load
ed into his car and taken to his
hospital where she was given every
care until she died.
One can gain faint conception
perhaps, of the speed of the car and
train and the strength of the I'M
pact by the location of the car and
the bodies. The car was a distance
of % feet from the crossing, fac
ing the track; the body of Norbert
Weisser, riding in the back seat
was 1O2 feet to the northeast of the
track; Mrs. Martin Schnetder's
body was about 80 feet north and
a trifle east of the track; the body
of Martin Schneider was perhaps
Is feet from the car, toward the
pavement. Mr.. Stengel- was be-
tween Martins body and the car;
Mrs. Henry J. Schneider was about
east of the car, probably a distance
of 40 feet.
Deputy Coroner, DR.. A. F. Moyni-
han, of this city was soon on the
scene of the accident. A hasty ex-
animation disclosed that:
The right side of Norbert Weis-
ser's head was crushed; he was bad
ly lacerated, arms and legs were
broken: undoubtedly internal in
juries. His death was instantan-
eous.
Martin Schneider, neck broken,
internally injured, arms, legs ana
ribs broken; death instantaneous.
Mrs. Martin Schneider, hole In
right side of head large enough Tor
a persons hand; other injuries;
death instantaneous.
Wenzel Stengel, bad scalp wound;
ribs broken on left side, one of the
ribs punctured lung; internal hem-
orrhages. Semi-conscious when
picked up; died at noon.
Mrs. Henry J. Schneider; alive
but unconscious when picked up;
compound fracture of the left arm;
throat badly lacerated, skull crush
ed in. Died at 1910 P. M.
Laverne Schneider, 5 years old;
skull cut from eye to about IL
inches above the eye; part OF
frontal bone broken; pulsation OF
brain visible. He is doing splendid