William Baldwin Wingert (1874-1886)

WINGERT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/27/2011 at 20:03:18

From Story County Watchman March 19, 1886

KILLED.--On Saturday last at Ames, Wm. Baldwin Wingert, aged 12 years and 10 days, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Wingert of this place.

Willie left Nevada on the freight train leaving this place a little after nine o'clock in the forenoon accompanies by Ben Goodin and Ferd. Statler and went to Ames. They there met the eastern bound freight and boarded it. One of the other boys succeeded in getting on board safely, but Wm. in climbing on some way missed his hold and fell under the cars. He was dragged under five cars and the last one passing over him as he lay between the rails. One side of his body, from head to foot was horribly mangled, the head injured, the right arm and leg, and side of the body were literally pulverized and ly hung in shreds. The accident was just west of the switch and a little west of opposite the mill in the place, and was seen by several parties who signalled the train to stop, which it did as soon as possible, and took the body back to the depot. As soon as the boy was was noticed to be falling parties started for the track and reached him immediately after the last car had passed over him, and he was lifted to one side and placed upon the car. From one of the other boys his name was ascertained and the station agent here notified who immediately notified his mother of the accident. The body was brought to Nevada on the freight and taken to the house where it remained until interred on Tuesday. The services were conducted by Rev. Jeffrey at the M. E. Church on Tuesday, who delivered an appropriate discourse to a crowded church, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery accompanied by his class in the public schools and the pupils generally, with whom he was a general favorite.

He was at home after 9 o'clock in the morning, and the accident occured before 10 o'clock. Mr. Wingert was absent on business to Boston and a dispatch was sent there and forwarded to him on the cars in Canada, and he hurried home, reaching here on the train at 11:10 Monday, accompanied by two of his sisters from Franklin Grove, Ill.

One of the peculiarities that may strike some as fortuitous is that the initials "W. W." were cut upon the tie on which he lay when reached, and had evidently been there ever since it had been laid on the road bed.

Coroner Hostetter held an inquest and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the facts.