Baack, Clarence 1912-1937

BAACK, HERZBERG

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke --Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

Source: Hawarden Independent (8-12-1937)

Born: May 26, 1912
Died: August 6, 1937

Fred Dommer, 23 years old, a young farmer residing near Craig, was instantly killed and Clarence Baack, 25 years old, who lived four miles northeast of Craig, was fatally injured when an airplane in which they were passengers, crashed into a cornfield on the Ewald Ball farm a mile north of Craig about 5:45 last Friday afternoon. George Conroy of Sioux City, pilot of the ill fated pane, escaped only with some severe facial cuts.

The plane, a Wako GXC type machine, had been brought to Craig from Sioux City by Conroy and Fred Vernon, Jr., a student, to carry passengers at the celebration which was being held in Craig. Friday was the first day of the two day celebration. On the ill fated trip Vernon had left the plane to make room for the two passengers, Dommer and Baack. He stated that the plane winged over and went into a spin at a height of about 150 feet and then nosed to the ground. He expressed the opinion that Conroy cut the ignition to prevent a fire. He with Otto Popken and George Oller were among the first to reach the scene of the disaster. An enormous crowd quickly gathered.

Dommer was dead when rescuers arrived and both Dommer and Baack were pinned beneath the wrecked ship. Conroy, the pilot, was bleeding and dazed. Baack was extricated and carried to a light truck belonging to the Valet Cleaners of Le Mars and Conroy was assisted to the A.L. Muth car. They were driven to Ireton but being unable to locate a physician there were brought to the Hawarden Hospital. Both of Baack’s legs were broken, vertebrae in his neck were broken, his skull was fractured and he was suffering from internal injuries.

An enormous crowd gathered at Craig as news of the disaster spread, the crowd trampling down a large section of the cornfield in their effort to view the wrecked plane. Sheriff Frank Scholer and County Coroner S.H. Luken of Plymouth County were called out. They placed a guard around the plane pending an investigation. With the Plymouth County officials, agents of the department of commerce inspected the wreckage Saturday. The Plymouth County officers with J. Read of Des Moines, of the department of commerce, were in Sioux City Sunday in the course of their investigation and interviewed Conroy, the pilot of the plane, and S.G. Warner, the owner. They stated Conroy had a student’s license but not a regular pilot’s license. The department of commerce will make a report of its findings later, according to a statement made by the Plymouth County authorities.

Both young men were members of well known families in the Craig vicinity where they had lived all their lives.

Clarence W. Baack, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baack, long time residents of Reading Township, southeast of Ireton, where he was born May 26, 1912, and lived there and in Grant Township, Plymouth County, all his life. He was united in marriage with Miss Florence Herzberg on February 23, 1936.

Clarence Baack is survived by his wife, Florence, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baack, five brothers: Fred, Herman, Carl, Edward and George and two sisters, Mrs. Otto Hein and Mrs. William Lahr.

The funeral for Clarence Baack was held Tuesday afternoon, and he was laid to rest at St. John's Cemetery. The church was filled to capacity by friends and neighbors besides many relatives.