Terrible Accident Near Bellevue

FRETZ

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/17/2009 at 10:41:08

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa, May 15, 1884.

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT NEAR BELLEVUE

(From Dubuque Herald, Sunday, May 11)

The news of a terrible accident which happened near Bellevue last evening was learned from a passenger who came up on the 6 o’clock train.

Mathias Fretz, a wealthy German farmer, living two and one-half miles from Bellevue, visited the latter place in a farm wagon yesterday accompanied by his wife. About three o’clock in the afternoon the two started for home, and arrived in front of their residence about an hour later. Mr. Fretz threw the lines upon the horses just as he stopped them, preparatory to getting out of the wagon, but the instant the lines were thrown upon them they started up and ran at a furious gait along the military road. Mr. Fretz was in a standing position when the horses started and he was thrown headlong over the dash-board onto the traces, the wagon passing over him and he received terrible cuts about the face, and was so badly injured that his life is despaired of. The team continued on its maddened course and further down the road the wagon tipped over throwing Mrs. Fretz heavily against a fence post fracturing her skull, death ensuing instantly. Both the above named parties are old and respected residents of Jackson County and lived near Bellevue for many years. The terrible accident has caused a gloom of sorrow in the locality where they were so well known and esteemed.

We have learned from a Bellevue gentleman that Mathias Fretz died on Monday, soon after the funeral of his wife.