WAYLAND'S WORST TRAGEDY - 1922

CONRAD, MILLER, MAGDEFRAU, WENGER, BOSHART, BOLLER, LAGENWALDER, ALLEN, RITTLER, COOK, SINCLAIR, MARTIN

Posted By: Ann Miller White (email)
Date: 3/16/2006 at 20:40:38

Wayland News – Thursday October 26, 1922

WAYLAND’S WORST TRAGEDY

One Killed, Five Injured at Grade Crossing

Mrs. J. C. Conrad Killed; Mrs. Anson Miller Seriously Injured

Never has Wayland been so shocked, so horrified, and cast under such a pall of gloom, as has been experienced here since Saturday afternoon about 2 co’lock when a telephone message from Mrs. William Magdefrau, who resides near Wayland crossing, north of town, conveyed the startling intelligence that an accident had occurred at the crossing and asking that help be sent at once.

Cars were soon speeding to the scene and the first to arrive found an automobile torn to fragments, with its maimed and unconscious occupants lying near and some under the wrecked car.

The first to arrive were John Voegtelin, Will Magdefrau and son, Leo, John Wenger, Menno Boshart, and grandson Vernon Boshart. They found that the unfortunate party were all Wayland folks, Mrs. J. C. Conrad and daughters, Frances and Hazel, Mrs. Anson Miller, her daughter, Elta, and little son Carl.

The Conrad and Miller families are neighbors and good friends and on that pleasant Saturday afternoon they decided to go to Washington and spend a few hours shopping. Miss Frances Conrad was driving the car and knowing her to be an experienced and careful driver, the little party started off in high spirits and with no thought of danger. When they arrived at the top of the long hill which extends to the Burlington railroad track, Mrs. Conrad said, “Watch out for the train, Frankie” and the daughter, mindful of the mother’s warning, had the car in good control. A car, a short distance ahead of the Conrad car crossed the track and the Wayland folks, not hearing or seeing any sign of a train, and no train being due at this hour, considered the coast clear and approached the track at moderate speed. When the auto was within a very short distance of the track, the engine of a freight train, which could not be seen on account of the high bank along the road, dashed in front of them and the next instant there was a crash as the auto struck just back of the engine which was headed west. The force of the train whirled the car around until it faced east completely wrecking the machine.

After the crash, Miss Conrad found herself still holding the wheel and the other occupants of the car bleeding and unconscious. Little Carl Miller was lying some distance down the track, about two feet from the rail. Frances picked up the little fellow and laid him on the grass. She then removed her sister, Hazel, to a place beside him.

By this time the train had stopped and the train men were there to render every possible assistance. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Conrad were under the wrecked car. Tender hands removed Mrs. Miller and she was placed on a stretcher provided by the train crew and brought to town in Mr. Boshart’s truck. Will Magdefrau brought little Carl Miller in his car. John Wenger came in with Hazel Conrad, Dr. Allen with Elta Miller, and Frances cared for by Friends.

Mrs. Conrad was instantly killed, or died of heart failure as the car struck. Her body was lying in a shallow ditch under the auto and it was some time before the car could be removed. The body was brought to the Boller undertaking rooms where it was prepared for burial.

It has been reported that the brakes on the car were not working. This is a mistake as Mr. Conrad had tested the brakes and knows that they were in excellent condition. No blame can be attached to anyone for this tragedy. It was a sad and regrettable accident which might have happened to anyone under similar circumstances.

The home of the injured and dead of this little company which had left home so happy an hour before, was heart breaking to the families, the neighbors, and friends who knew and loved them. Hearts are bleeding in sympathy for John Conrad and his two daughters, Frances and Hazel, who are crushed with grief over the tragedy that has taken from them suddenly and without warning, the loving wife and mother. Mrs. Conrad was to her daughters a companion and chum. Until recently they have been our neighbors and we have frequently noticed the loving obedience and devotion of the daughters and the almost unusual pride and tender affection of the mother. Their’s was a happy home and in the years to come, when the wounds of this deep sorrow have healed, they will think of their girlhood home, when mother was there, as a sweet and sacred memory.

The scene at the Amon Miller home soon after the accident would have melted a heart of steel. First the wife and mother was brought in on a stretcher, moaning in anguish at every breath. She was carried into her home and physicians hurriedly summoned. In a few minutes, Dr. Allen arrived, bringing the daughter, Elta Miller, apparently in a dying condition. After she had been taken in and placed on a couch, another one arrived with little Carl, his face and clothing covered with blood, and one leg broken in the thigh. Dr. Langenwalder, Dr. Allen, and Dr. Cook, assisted by Dr. Rittler and Dr. Sinclair, were busy for nearly two hours dressing wounds and making the patients as comfortable as possible. Miss Hazel Conrad who had her collar bone broken and a bad scalp wound, was also cared for.

At the time this is written, Tuesday morning, all the injured are thought to be improving. Mrs. Miller is still very low, but she is brighter and the family and friends are more hopefully for her recovery. She is under the care of Miss Lucille Martin, a trained nurse from Washington County Hospital.

Mr. Miller and his family moved to Wayland from near Wellman on August second, last. In the brief time of their residence here, they have made many friends. They reside in rooms adjoining the News office, and we regard them as most excellent neighbors. We have become accustomed to hearing Mrs. Miller and her daughter singing at their work and we miss the splendid music of their voices. Little Carl, 5 years old, is also quite a singer and it will be music indeed when we can again hear him sing “Iowa, Iowa, that’s where the tall corn grows”.

The deepest sympathy of the town and community is extended to Mr. Miller and his family, and it has been expressed in a substantial way. Relatives and friends from a distance have been in the home, giving the comfort and assistance so much needed at this time.

We hope the next issue of the News may carry the glad message that all the injured are on the road to complete recovery, thus forming a silver lining to one of the darkest clouds of sorrow and depression that has ever visited this community.