Nelson, Daughter – Died 1903

NELSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/4/2019 at 13:59:00

Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 12, 1903 Page 4 Col 5

R. R. Wreck in Chickasaw County.
New Hampton Gazette, Aug. 5th: A south bound freight train on the Great Western yesterday afternoon became uncoupled a mile north of Devon and when the first section came to a stop the rear section coming down grade at a high speed crashed into it with deadly effect. The last car of the first section was occupied by Italian laborers as was also the first car of the last section. In one of the cars was Hans Nelson, foreman of the Italian crew, his wife and two little daughters. One Italian was killed, and eight others wounded. A daughter of Nelson was also killed, and his wife and other daughter injured. News of the disaster was telegraphed to New Hampton at once and Drs. Babcock and Gardner, company surgeons, Schilling, Landon, I. K. Gardner, Torpey. Feeney and Willson boarded the 2:45 train.
The scene of the wreck was heartrending. Italians lay stretched groaning on every baud, unable to make themselves understood as to injuries while their companions made a pathetic picture as they stood beside their maimed brethren or searched among the wreckage for their personal effects.
Most pitiful of all was the grief and suffering of Mrs. Hans Nelson, wife of foreman Nelson, as she sat on the ground with a maimed leg beside the body of her dead babe nursing the eldest girl, whose clothing was crimsoned from a wound upon the head. Her cries for the little one so suddenly torn from her were heartrending and few among the onlookers but were melted to tears at the sight.