Olson, Ella Margaret 1871 - 1938

OLSON

Posted By: Doris Hoffman (email)
Date: 7/29/2010 at 21:08:04

Final Rites For
Wreck Victims
Sisters Killed While Returning
From Visit In Iowa

Sioux City Journal : Friends and
relatives followed the bodies; of Misses
Ella Margaret and Sarah Olson of
Seattle to graves in Logan Park Cemetery
here Monday.
Rev. Max Gilmer, supply pastor at
Trinity Lutheran church, officiated at
the last rites and also committal services
for the two former Sioux City
women who met death early Sunday
morning , June 19, when the Milwaukee
railroad's crack passenger train, the
Olympian, crashed through a weakened
bridge and plunged into the flood
swollen Custer creek near Miles City,
Mont.
The body of Miss Sarah Olson was
found Thursday in Custer creek 10
miles from the scene of the tragic
wreck, but her sister's body had drifted
for 80 miles and was not found until
Saturday morning In the Yellowstone
river near Glendive. The bodies evidently
were washed from the submerged
sleeping car where the sisters were
when the train crashed. Both
were dressed in night clothing,
according to E. H. Olson, 609 Sioux
apartments , their brother , who left for
Miles City immediately to be there
when the bodies were recovered.
Both bodies were badly decomposed
when found and positive identification
was made only by dental charts which
were sent to Miles City by airplane,
Mr. Olson said both sisters occupied
lower berths in pull man B which was
completely submerged in the swirling
creek waters . Water in the creek receded
Saturday, Mr. Olson said, and
the creek again was a dry run .
Miss Sarah D. Olson was 68 and
the older of the two. She was born
December 13, 1869, at Albaton community
near Sloan. Miss Ella Margaret, who
with the assistance of her sister
conducted a dramatic art studio
at Seattle , was born April 1, 1871, at
Albaton. They were the daughters of
C. A. Olson who at one time operated
a general store near Sloan and also
served as county auditor and Sixth
ward alderman . The sisters had been
visiting in their brother 's home before
they left on their ill fated return
journey to Seattle. Miss Sarah Olson
formerly was employed in the county
auditor's office here . Both formerly resided in Sioux City.
Surviving , besides Mr. Olson, are
four brothers , C. A. and O. L. Olson,
both of Des Moines, and C. B . and R.
F. Olson, who reside in Plymouth
county, and two sisters , Mrs. F . A.
Maxeiner of Seattle and M r s . C. M,
Schaimus of Sioux City.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, July 1, 1938
Le Mars, Iowa