Flak, Elsie (Selness) 1865 – 1904

FLAK, SELNESS, FLACK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:41

Source: Decorah Republican June 23, 1904 Page 3

Sudden Death in Highland.
Monday evening, a married daughter of Nicolai Selness of Highland, who in here from the west on a visit, met sudden and painful death by an accident. She was on her way to visit some relatives when on a steep hill the neckyoke of the harness broke, the rig was turned over and the lady received injuries in her side from which she died about fifteen minutes later. Besides her parents and husband she is survived by three small children. The rig was being driven by Otto Thorsen. Neither he nor the children were seriously injured.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows this was Elsie Flak who is buried in Hesper Lutheran and was born in 1865 and died 1904.

Source: Decorah Republican June 30, 1904 Page 4

FATAL ACCIDENT IN HIGHLAND.
Fuller Particulars of the Event Partially Reported last week in these Columns.
From the Spring Grove Herald of last Thursday we got the following details of this sad event:—
At the time of the accident, Mrs. Flak and her four children together with Otto Selness and his little granddaughter were driving down n hill. They were going at a rapid pace, the gentleman being unable to fully control the bronchos, and when nearing Gilbert A. Anderson's residence it is thought the seat Mrs. Flak was occupying became loosened and by a sudden jolt was thrown out on the hard, rock roadbed together with her 11 months' old baby which she was holding. This accident together with the children's screams frightened the bronchos and they could not be controlled as they galloped down the remainder of the hill when another accident occurred. A part of the neckyoke became unfastened, allowing the tongue to fall to the ground which upset the buggy and spilled out the remaining occupants. Mr. Selness together with the children, even the little baby Mrs. Flak was holding, escaped with but a few minor bruises, all the attention was therefore given immediately to Mrs. Flak who lay unconscious where she had fallen. She was carried into the home of Mr. Anderson, a doctor was summoned but he arrived too late to be of any assistance to the lady.
The accident occurred at about 6:00 o'clock p. m., and in about an hour and a half later she breathed her last, during which time she was conscious for only a short period. On examination it was found that Mrs. Flak’s entire right side was smashed, she having struck on a pile of rock. Her home is at White Rock, S. D., and together with her children was down here on a visit with her father, Nicholas Selness, of Hesper, Iowa.

Source: Decorah Republican June 30, 1904 Page 6

The funeral of Mrs. Lorentz Flack, whose sad and sudden death was mentioned last week, was held at the Lutheran church on the 3d, Rev. A. O. Langhaugh officiating. Mrs. Flack was a daughter of Nicolai T Selness of Hesper ad was here with her four children from Dakota for a visit to her aged father and other relatives. The accident occurred near the home of Gilbert I Anderson in Highland township. An old harness, a poor neckyoke and a pair of bronchos with a driver who could not control them, seem to have been the cause of the catastrophe. Mrs. Flack exemplified the true mother as the baby in her arms was unhurt, and the other children suffered but slight injuries. There was a large attendance at the funeral, more than forty carriages being in the procession from the home of Mr. Anderson. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to Mr. Flack and the children in their affliction.

Hesper Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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