The Sauk Centre herald., 1935-07-11
Had Planned to Enjoy Family
Reunion at Lastrup
During Day
COLLIDED WITH TRAIN
Schommer Girls Buried Mon
day Morn-William Fried
erichs Funeral Wed.

"A tragic accident which brought
sorrow to this community occurred
the morning Of the Fourth of July
when two young people were In.
stantly killed and the third receiv-
ed fatal injuries when the automo-
bile in which they were riding col
lided with a Northern Pacific
freight train.
There were four occupants OF
the car, three Of whom have passed
away. The dead are.
William Friederichs, age 80
driver of the car.
Bertha Schommer, age 81.
Clara Schommer, age "a.
Paul Wangler, the fourth mem
Der Of the party, which was on its
way to enjoy a family reunion at
Lastrup, was in st. GabriePs Hos
pital, Little Falls, suffering from
internal injuries. He had so far
recovered from the injuries receiv-
ed that he was able to leave the
hospital Wednesday and arrived
in this city the same afternoon. He
is well on the road to recovery, a
fact his many friends will be glad
to learn. Mr.. Wengler, whose home
is at Greenwald is a brother of Ted
Wengler, of this city, and has been
employed by Leo Friederichs on a
farm west of Sauk Centre.
The accident occurred at 1910
the morning of the Fourth at the
N. P. Railway crossing, one mile
east of Burtrum, in Burnhamville
Township, Todd County.
AS stated before the occupants
of the Inflated car, and a number
of the members or vne young Ia
dies family had planned reunion
with other relatives at Lastrup.
There were to be three cars in the
party, and the young people start
ed from this city short time
before Mr.. and Mrs. Mike Lenarz
and son, Leroy, and the mother
of the deceased young ladies, Mrs.
Nick Schommer and son, Jerome,
the, occupants Of the second car,
The young folk decided to stop at
Ward Springs to wait for sister,
Mr.. and Mrs. F. d. Vener, while
the Lenarz car continued the
journey to Lastrup. They did not
learn of the accident until noti-
fled later at their destination.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vener and children
were soon ready for the trip, but
needed gas and wished to buy
some fruit, hence stopped at the
Ward Springs store. They advised
the sisters and the young men to
go on and in about fifteen minutes
they followed. Upon arriving at
the crossing they came upon the
accident and soon discovered that
it was the car in which their sis
ters had been riding.
According to information re-
ceived William Friederichs, driv-
er of the car, evidently did not see
the train until almost at the cros-
sing, which it is said is a danger
Gus one. It was too late to stop and
he swung his Oldsmobile car to
the right or toward the east, from
which direction the train was COM
ing. The crossing at this point
crosses the road on an angle in a
southwesterly direction. The driv-
er's attempts to avert the accident
were futile, and the car hit the
front side Of the engine near the
pilot. According to report they
were dragged along at least four
car lengths. Miss Bertha Schom-
mer was thrown a consider
able distance from the car, while
William Friederichs- and Paul
Wengler, also thrown out of the
car, were nearby. Miss Clara
Schommer remained in the car
with her head pinned under the
frame. A strange car had just
crossed the railroad crossing ahead
of the Friederichs car.
AS soon as possible Mr.. Vener,
brother-in-law Of the deceased
young ladies, drove to Swanville,
to get DR.. Simon, who was not at
home at the time. He returned
with FIR. Killian, from Swanville,
who annointed the young folk, and
dCCOiu pt1IlCo LILO iuJuICot VAioS
Clara Schommer and Paul Weng-
Ter, to st. Gabriers Hospital, Little
Falls, where they received immed-
late attention. They were taken to
the hospital in a light truck. The
bodies Of the two who passed away
were brought to Sauk Centre and
held for coroner's inquest, which
took place at the Sauk Centre
Funeral Parlors Friday afternoon
at two o'clock. Fred Soule, Coron-
er of Todd County, who resides at
Browerville, sent the following
copy of the Coroner's verdit to the
Herald:
State of Minnesota, County
of Todd, IS.
An inquisition, taken at Sauk
Centre in the County Of Stearns
on the 5th day Of July, A. d.,
1885, before Fred Soule, Cor
oner Of said County Of Todd,
upon view Of the bodies Of Ber-
'tha Schommer, Clara Schom-
! mer and william Friederichs
lying there dead, by the oaths
Of the Jurors whose names are
hereunto subscribed, who be-
: ing sworn to inquire on behalf
CONTINUED on Paga Z. Col. -