Hecht, John 1847-1911

HECHT

Posted By: Doris Hoffman (email)
Date: 7/3/2010 at 19:11:56

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, June 15, 1911
Akron, Iowa

DEATH AT RAILROAD CROSSING
Passenger Engine- Hits Auto North
of Merrill—One Killed and Several
Injured.

Death lurked at the Colledge crossing
four miles southwest of Le Mars
last Thursday morning, when a belated
southbound Omaha passenger
train rounded a sharp curve and
crashed into an auto owned and operated
by Frank Woll, which carried
as passengers his wife, John Hecht,
Theo. Hoffman and Bert Hoss, well
known farmers residing a few miles
west of Merrill. John Hecht was almost
instantly killed, sustaining a
broken neck and other terrible injuries.

Theo. Hoffman was seriously
hurt, his left side being crushed
and several ribs broken. Mr. Woll's
collar bone was fractured, his shoulder
badly bruised and possibly internal
injury inflicted. Bert Hoss saw
the approaching train and jumped as
it struck, receiving only slight bruises,
while Mrs. Woll escaped with
nothing more serious than a sprained
wrist. She was riding with her husband
in the front seat and was the
only one of the party not thrown
out of the car. The motor of the
auto was still running after it
landed nearly clear of the railroad
right of way, and Mrs. Woll had
the presence of mind to shut it off.

There were a number of eye witnesses
to the tragic accident, who
claim the train was running at very
high speed, and neither they nor the
occupants of the auto heard the engine's
bell or whistle sounded for
the crossing. The approaching train
was hidden from view by a grove.
Mr. Woll saw the train bearing down
upon them and his only resort was
to force his machine ahead at full
speed in order to avert the impending
collision. A fraction of a second
more and the auto would have
crossed in safety, but it was not so
ordained. The pilot of the locomotive
struck the left rear wheel and
end of the auto with terrific force,
hurling it about fifty feet and turning
nearly once around.

The injured were taken on the
train to Merrill, where they received
medical attention. Latest reports
are that Mr. Hoffman will recover.

Those in the auto were on their
way to attend the funeral of Emil
Orban at Oyens, all of them being
relatives of the Orban family.

The coroner's jury will meet tomorrow
(Friday) for final hearing
of evidence and circumstances connected
with the accident.

Mr. Hecht was about 65 years of
age and a highly respected resident
of south Johnson township, where
he had lived for thirty years. He
leaves a wife, three sons and one
daughter, all at home, to whom widespread
sympathy is extended in
their sad and grievous affliction.

The funeral was held Saturday at
the Ellendale church, and nearly a
hundred teams formed the procession
to the cemetery.
**********
The funeral of John Hecht, who
was killed last Thursday morning in
an auto accident, was held at the
Catholic church at Ellendale on Saturday.
Mr. Hecht has lived in Johnson
township for a number of years
and was respected by all who knew
him.