MAN KILLED AS TRAIN WRECKS AN AUTOMOBILE

JACOBS, WERNER, BARNES, JOHNSON, CURTIS, HANN

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/25/2010 at 20:58:20

DEE JACOBS OF LETTS ALMOST INSTANTLY KILLED IN TRAGEDY AT WAPELLO.

COMPANION HURT AS CAR IS STRUCK

Passenger Train of the Muscatine, Burlington, & Southern Railroad Hits Automobile At Crossing Near Wapello - Dead Man Hurled Through Windshield.

One man is dead and another dangerously injured as the reslut of an accident which occurred at a railroad crossing near Wapello late yesterday afternoon. The dead man is Dee Jacobs, 60, a resident of Letts. The injured man is August Werner, a farmer near Letts and son of C.H. Werner, 1019 Iowa Avenue.

The tragedy occurred at what is known as the Hogback crossisng three miles north of Wapello shortly after four o'clock yesterday afternoon. An automobile, in which Jacobs and Werner were riding, was struck by a passenger train on the Muscatine, Burlington & Southern railroad.

The automobile was demolished. Jacobs died within a few minutes after being picked up by the train crew, the passenger train having been brought to a stop immediately after crashing into the machine. Although seriouly injured, the condition of Werner is not considered as critical. He is expected to recover. Both were conveyed to Wapello on the train.

The scene of the tragedy is regarded as a dangerous railroad crossing. Apparently neither Jacobs nor Werner were cognizant of the approaching passenger train until it was too late to avoid the accident. The auto was hurled high in the air, Jacobs being catapulted through the windshield. It is believed that his head struck a hard object which resulted in his death. Werner was hurled through the side of the machine and escaped with comparatively minor bruises.

The two had been engaged throughout the day in posting sale bills en route from Letts to Grandview and Wapello. Both were returning from their labors when the tragedy occurred.

The automobile, a Ford, was owned by Werner. He was driving the machine.

Jacobs, whose occupation was that of a laborer, is survived by four sons and a daughter. His wife preceded him in death several years ago. The children are Walter, Ralph and Harry Jacobs at home, Erwin Jacobs, a member of the Muscatine battery now stationed on the Mexican border at Brownsville, Texas, and Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, at home. Four sisters, also mourn his demise. They are Mrs. Rena Barnes, Mrs. Freal Johnson and Mrs. Hattie Curtis of Letts and Mrs. Mary Hann of Illinois.

Source: LCHS scrapbook