Theodore Tangeman, 1893-1908

TANGEMAN

Posted By: Ken Johnson (email)
Date: 6/14/2003 at 21:16:47

Friday, 13 March 1908, Postville Review, p5, c5 and 6:

Killed by the Cars!
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Theodore Tangeman, of This City, Meets Death in Unusual Manner at Warsaw, Indiana, on Tuesday.
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Falls From Moving Freight Train
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Through a Bridge, and Fractures Skull on Pavement Fifteen Feet Below.—Funeral Here Today.
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As shocking, sad and sorrowful a message as was ever taken from the wires at this station, was that received at about 8:30 p. m. Tuesday conveying to the mother, Mrs. F. W. Tangeman, of this city, the heart-rending news that her only son, Theodore, had met death in a railroad accident that day. The facts as we learn them are substantially as follows:

About two months ago Theodore left Postville to enter the Winona Lake Academy, a Presbyterian school for boys, located near Winona Lake, Indiana. Letters received form him during his stay there told of his contentment and the pleasure he took both in the school and its surroundings, and letters from Principal DuBois of the Academy both preceding and since the lamentable accident, told not only of his studiousness and excellent work he was doing in the school, but spoke of his splendid deportment as well and expressed the great confidence they reposed in him.

He was in his classes Tuesday as usual, finishing his work for the day at three o’clock. As soon as his last class was over he went to the office of Prin. DuBois and asked permission to go to Warsaw to purchase a pair of shoes, there being no stores at Winona Lake. The permit was written out for him and he left the school. No car on the electric line being there, he boarded a freight on the steam road just leaving for Warsaw, knowing most trains took water there. As it entered the city limits the train reduced its speed, but as the caboose passed the passenger station it began rapidly to pick up speed. Doubtless thinking the train had received a clearance and would pull right through, Theodore climbed on to the side ladder of a car and began to look for a favorable place to alight before the train got under too great headway. Hanging in this position and not familiar with the surroundings, he did not notice the approach of a viaduct, guarded on either side by strong girders of steel, until it was too late to ascend the ladder to safety, with the result that his person came in contact with the girder, breaking his hold and he was thrown beneath the girder and rolling over the ends of the ties was precipitated head foremost to the hard pavement fifteen feet below, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious.

Several persons noted his fall and rushed to his assistance. An ambulance was hurriedly on the scene and Theodore was taken promptly to the hospital in connection with Winona Academy, where the physicians agreed an operation offered the only hope of saving his life, but while they were making preparation to perform the same the vital spark went out and the soul of Theodore Tangeman was wafted back to God who gave it.

The accident occurred at 4:30 p. m. and he died about 6:45 p. m., Tuesday, without regaining consciousness.

A. W. Courson left Tuesday night for Winona Lake to look after the preparation of the remains and accompany the body home, reaching here on the 2:52 passenger this morning. He tells us that the Academy at Winona dismissed the forenoon session of the school yesterday and the teachers and students gathered at the chapel to hold a memorial service, and that no one who heard the tender tributes or saw the tears trickling down the cheeks of that student body could fail to realize the warm spot Theodore had won in their hearts during the brief time he had been among them.

Theodore Tangeman was born in Postville fifteen years ago the 21st of last February, where all his life, with the exception of the two months last past, has been spent. He was a fine looking and manly appearing young fellow, who was held in high esteem by his schoolmates and associates. Death under all circumstances is sad, but it seems unusually sad when it chooses as a victim one just entering into noble young manhood, as in this case. The joy, the pride, the hope of a widowed mother’s heart in a twinkling has been cut down; he upon whom she lavished her love and affection is no more. Words are weak to carry comfort to the heart thus bereft, but the tenderest sympathy of the people of this community is with the heart broken mother and sister. In this their hour of sorrow and affliction, and in the closing words of Principal DuBois’s Letter, "We most earnestly commend you to our dear Saviour, who is able to lighten all burdens and bring consolation to those in deepest distress. May He sustain and keep you."

[c6]

The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful, the faculty and students of Winona Academy sending several beautiful contributions of flowers, aside from the numerous offerings by the Postville Public Schools, the neighbors and friends.

The funeral was held from the M. E. church at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon, conducted by Rev. C. E. Smith and Rev. W. W. Robinson. The High School and Grammar department were closed that the pupils might pay a last tribute of respect to their former classmate, the funeral being the largest held in this vicinity for some time. Interment in the Postville cemetery.