GALLAGHER, James F. 1895 - 1937

GALLAGHER, MCGRAW, GOSCHE

Posted By: Cindy Maust Smith (email)
Date: 8/29/2020 at 11:21:24

The Monona Leader, Thursday, January 7, 1937, Monona, Iowa, Page 1

Two Waukon Men Burn To Death In Car

Two Allamakee County farmers were burned to death late Friday morning when they were trapped in their car as it left the road and plowed into an enbankment on Highway No. 13, five and one half miles northwest of Waukon.

The dead are: James Gallagher, 40, of Hanover Township, married and the father of three small children.

Vincent Ryan, 30, of Jefferson Township. He was single.

The accident was discovered shortly after 2 o'clock Friday morning by Lester Jones and Cyril Grady, who were returning to their homes after celebrating New Year's Eve at a house party.

Firemen were immediately summoned to the scene, and they extinguished the blaze. The badly charred bodies of the two victims were then found.

Identification of Ryan was not made until 11 o'clock in the morning nearly nine hours after the tragedy was discovered. He was identified by his teeth.

Gallagher was identified by his driver's license.

Authorities express the belief that Gallagher was taking Ryan home when the tragedy occured. An examination disclosed that one tire had blown out, leading authorities to believe that this was responsible for the car leaving the road and ploughing into the embankment. The heads of both men broke the windshield and they were trapped in that position.

It is believed one of the men had been smoking and that the fire started when the cigar or cigarette ignited the cushions of the car.

The scene of the accident was near the Jim Collins farm.

Gallagher was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gallagher of Waukon. He was born and raised in Ludlow Township. His mother died several years ago. Besides his father, he is survived by his widow, the former Mary McGraw and three small daughters; a brother, Pat of Waukon, and one sister, Mrs. Loretta Gosche of Sioux Falls, S.D.

DOB: March 17, 1895