LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Sept. 6, 1894, page 4

UNDER AN ENGINE.
Bridge Falls, Killing John and Thomas Walker.
DEATH MET IN A TERRIBLE FORM.
Planks Give Way and a Thresher Engine Falls Over Backwards, Crushing and
Scalding the Brothers.

One of the saddest accidents that ever occurred in Plymouth county happened
in meadow township on Tuesday by which John and Thomas Walker lost their
lives. They were moving a threshing machine across a bridge of the creek
about seven and a half miles northeast of Remsen. Both men were on the rear
platform of the engine which was not connected with the separator. The front
wheels had crossed the bridge when the planks gave way and let the engine
down about twelve feet to the dry bed of the creek. In descending, the
engine turned completely over and fell with both boys crushed beneath it,
the four wheels in the air and with the smoke stack sticking into the
ground. One of the boys called for help once or twice but the other one
never spoke. The wheels revolved with lightning rapidity for a few moments
and then the water got up into the whistle and blew out up on the imprisoned
men scalding their corpses from head to foot.

The brother and a hired man with the threshing outfit were not able to do
anything with the heavy engine, so help was summoned from Remsen. By means
of a rope and tackle the engine was tipped over the bodies were taken out.
One of them had his hand on the throttle lever when found. Their watches
were running just as if nothing had happened. The bridge was two spans wide
and was not considered safe for a heavy steamer by the neighbors who had
warned the boys to go around. It appears that they did not take the usual
precautions prescribed bylaw, of putting extra planks down to strengthen the
bridge.

The bodies were taken to Remsen and there prepared for burial. The mother of
the boys lives in Le Mars. The family owns several farms near Remsen and the
boys have with their three brothers operated them since the death of their
father.

They were quite well off financially and one of the boys was a member of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen which will pay $2000 dollars life insurance.
He joined the order only a few weeks ago. The funeral took place at Remsen
yesterday afternoon and the sons were buried in the Remsen cemetery where
their father lies.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Sept. 10, 1894, page 2

Inquest Over the Walker Brothers

County Coroner Gray held an inquest at Remsen, Thursday, to find the reason for the
fatal accident that befell John and Thomas Walker last Tuesday.

The following jury was impaneled: Messrs. P. Conway, M. Se??ed, and Fisch.
After hearing the testimony of the eight witnesses, the jury found a verdict
in substance as follows: “John and Thos Walker met their death from a steam
tractor engine crashing through a bridge located over Deep creek, between
section 10 and 15, in Meadow township, because of too light covering on
bridge, the bodies being crushed and scalded.”

The jury was kept busy nearly the entire day and as none of the witnesses
could give any very definite description of the bridge, time was taken for
the party to drive out and examine it.