Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel
July 7, 1916

TRAIN IS DITCHED
PASSENGERS SHAKEN UP IN WRECK ON CENTRAL
SPREADING RAIL SUPPOSED CAUSE

Seems Little Short of a Miracle to Those Who Saw the Wreck That Some of the
People in the Cars Were Not Killed

The Chicago passenger train on the Illinois Central which is due in LeMars
at 7:02 a.m. went into the ditch four miles east of LeMars on Wednesday
morning and to those who saw the wreck it seems little short of a miracle
that some of the passengers were not killed and others severely hurt. The
accident occurred just east of the crossing near J.J. Elliott's place, while
the train was running at thirty miles an hour or faster. The engine, tender,
baggage car, mail car, the smoker and chair car left the rails. The baggage
and express car turned over on its side and landed almost at right angles to
the track. The tender, which was the first to leave the rails, was on its
side when the train stopped and the tracks that had been under it were back
of the baggage car. Tracks were torn from under the mail and smoking cars
which plowed down through the soft earth on the south side of the
embankment. Neither the mail, smoking or chair car overturned, although the
latter was left tilted at quite an angle. Engineer Frank Rogers stuck to his
post and was uninjured. His fireman also stayed with the engine and suffered
only slight bruises. H. Hurlburt, the expressman, who was in his car when it
upset, received quite a few bruises and had one ear badly cut. When he
crawled out of the car he was bespattered with blood, mud and grease and
that he escaped more serious injuries is marvelous. It all happened so
suddenly that all the passengers seemed more or less stunned by the shock,
but none were seriously hurt and all were able to walk to the train which
brought them to LeMars. The streetcoaches, with which the train is equipped
throughout, were no doubt responsible for the fact that there was no loss of
life and only minor injuries to the passengers and train crew. Rotten ties
where the cars first left the track may have caused the accident. The track
was torn up for about 200 feet, but the wrecking crew soon built a track
around the damaged cars so that the afternoon trains got by as usual. Two
wrecking outfits were at work all day clearing up the debris and getting the
cars back on the track. So far as could be observed little damage was done
the cars further than tearing some of the tracks from beneath them, as they
ploughed up the dirt. There were several LeMars passengers on the train, but
none of them were hurt.

News of the wreck reached LeMars shortly after it occurred and there was a
continual procession of automobiles out to the scene of the accident all
day.

A. Tappen, Glen Keister, Oscar Hart, and Clinton Diehl were among the
passengers on the train.

Mr. Tappen and Mr. Hart were seated in the day coach, which was overturned.
Tappen said he felt a slight jar and Hart lurched against him as the shock
came and he was thrown against the window. The coach was nearly full, most
of the passengers being women. Mr. Tappen said it was remarkable how little
excitement there was and how well the people, especially the ladies kept
their heads. When the passengers got out of the coach, Tappen and Hart
walked up the track and were surprised to see what had happened. They
noticed a hand stretching out of the window of the express car and, with the
trainmen, hurried up and saw Hurlburt, the only man injured. His head and
face were covered with blood and he was smeared all over with milk and
grease. When the car had overturned, he was hit with a milk can.

_____

Roy Ferguson, of Mason City, was in LeMars on Wednesday and Thursday. He was
a passenger on the train which was wrecked east of town on Wednesday
morning. Mr. Ferguson said he was half asleep at the time, sitting in the
smoker, and the first thing he knew he was lying on his back on the floor of
the car several seats ahead of the place where he was sitting before the
shock came.

HINTON GAZETTE
JULY 13, 1916

LOCAL AND PERSONAL
Miss Lillian Prouty, of Moville, is a guest of her uncle and aunt, Mr.
and Mrs. Ray Stevens. 

Mr. Southward and Mctyne are busy this week painting the farm home of
Mr. Ben Held.

Mrs. G. T. Littlefield is visiting at Pierson this week, the guest of
her daughter, Mrs. Albert Mathers.

Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Schneider spend the fourth in town with the
latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Taylor.

Miss May Smith of Duluth arrived in the city Saturday for an extended
visit with her cousin, Mrs. Philip Tronsrue.

Miss Mary Garvey came down from Leeds Saturday evening and spent Sunday
with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Garvey.

Mrs. B. Kay left Sunday for a visit with her mother at Fonda, Iowa. Mr.
and Mrs. Southward has charge of the restaurant during her absence.

A baby boy arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Calkins.

Raymond, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. John Harvey, met with a serious
and painful accident last Thursday evening. He was playing in the back
yard when he stepped upon an old rake left lying teeth up in the yard.
Two of the teeth were clear through his foot. Dr. Robbins was called and
the necessary steps taken to prevent infection of the wound.

JAMES NEWS
Ed Bradstreet and family are enjoying the a new five passenger Ford car.

Mrs. Frank Woolworth was a recent visitor in the W. A. Crouch home in
Leeds.

Mrs. J. H. Woolworth, Sr. is spending a week with her daughter, Mrs.
George Luce, of Perry creek.

Mrs. Charles Bennett has returned home after spending two weeks with her
daughter, Mrs. Gustave Lobe, of Parkston, S. D.

ROUND THE COUNTY
From The Le Mars Globe Post
One of the worst railroad wrecks as well as one of the most fortunate
for passengers and employees that ever occurred in this section of the
country happened Wednesday  morning between Le Mars and Oyens when the
Illinois Central Flyer known as the Chicago Limited NO 611, west bound
drawn by engine No. 1129 was derailed, rotten ties to have been the
cause of the wreck. The scene of the accident was two miles this side of
Oyens, just at the beginning of the curve and at a point where it is
said that the train usually travels at a rate of 50 to 55 miles per
hour. The rear of the engine was derailed and the whole tipped to one
side. The tender was derailed and turned over on the side. The baggage
car was thrown across the ditch made by the grade and was lying with the
rear end projecting into the public highway, which follows the railroad
track at that point. The mail car was thrown off the grade and stood
tipped to one side at the bottom of the ditch. The smoker and two day
coaches were derailed and were all standing at a slant on the grade with
their trucks partially or completely buried. The trucks of the tender
and baggage car were cut off as neatly as though severed with a knife
and were left standing on the grade where the track had been, about
ninety yards of it having been swept off completely. Considerable amount
of credit must be given to the engineer and fireman for their nerve in
sticking to their engine until the train had been stopped, and also to
the passengers for the minimum amount of excitement shown. When
everything had quieted down the passengers, who had by that time crawled
out or walked out of the coaches, were checked up and everyone accounted
for.

Akron Register
July 20, 1916

MILLNERVILLE  MENTION:  (Special Correspondence)

A number of the Sioux township Eighth grade students went to LeMars Saturday
to get their diplomas.

Dr. Van Knott, his assistant and nurses, were storm bound at the C. L. Knapp
home last Thursday night.  Dr. Knott was returning to Sioux City from
Cherokee and Akron, at both of which places he had performed operations.

Orrice Allard is helping Waldon Fry a few days.

Miss Black, a deaconess of Sioux City, accompanied members of the N.R.
Hathaway family to Millnerville recently.

The Sunnyside alumni will meet at the Taylor home Thursday evening of this
week.  No initiation performances this time.

Mr. and Mrs. Dona Allard were visitors in Sioux City the fore part of the
week.

Mary Millette has returned to keep house for the boys.  Ubald had a close
call from blood poisoning, resulting from a slight scratch.

Mrs. Thomas Clarey submitted to a surgical operation at the Akron hospital
last Thursday.  She is doing well, although the operation was of quite a
serious nature.

Quite a number of Millnerville people took in Ringlings circus at Sioux City
Monday.

Four well known Jefferson people were in a serious automobile accident at
the Big Sioux bridge at North Riverside Monday morning, and three of them
lost their lives by drowning.  George Fountain, who was one of the victims,
was a cousin to William Fountain, who is at present employed by N. R. Knapp.

A few stayed up long enough to enjoy seeing the eclipse of the moon last
Thursday night.

An unusually large crowd attended the Mathwig dance Saturday night.

The intense heat has been even harder on the horses than folks and a number
in the neighborhood have given out completely.

A. A. Lilly went to Sioux City Friday to get his motor.

Haying and harvesting are coming on together and all of the farmers are
extra busy.  Help is scarcer than ever.

Harry and Phoebe Hathaway were Sunday visitors at Harley Small's.

The funeral of Miss Addie Hunter, who died last Thursday morning, was held
from the family residence Saturday morning.  Rev. G.O. Kidder, of Sioux
City, conducting the service.  The pall bearers were recruited from the old
neighbors, Charles Buchter, Peter Dormady, Noah Knapp, Alonzo Lilly, Oscar
Nystrom and Thomas Walsh officiating in that capacity.  Interment was in
Logan Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Glann and her granddaughter, Miss Ethel Glann, are guests in the Dale
Hunter home.

Elmer and Hoyt Hunter, brothers, and Miss Hazel Hunter, a niece, came to
attend Miss Addie Hunter's funeral.

An ice cream social at Bethel is being planned for Tuesday of next week.

ADAVILLE ITEMS:  (Special Correspondence)

A number have started cutting their grain.

Mort. Bristow bought a new Ford of Labahn Bros. last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Stinton, Miss Blanche Stinton, Mrs. Rex Pollock and little
son autoed to LeMars Monday.

Fred Richardson died at his home in Sioux City, Ia., Monday, July 10, 1916,
at the age of 83 years, after a long illness.  Funeral services were held in
Sioux City, Wednesday, at 10 o'clock, and the remains were brought here and
laid to rest in the Adaville cemetery, beside a son and daughter who died
some years ago.  Mr. Richardson lived near here before going to Sioux City
and is well known.  He leaves a wife, two daughters, Mrs. M. Sheets of Sioux
City, and Mrs. George Brown of Adaville, and one son, Will, of Hinton, to
mourn.  The family have the sympathy of their friends.

Mr. Hodge and son, Bob, of Sioux City, were calling on friends here Tuesday.

Mrs. Parker, of LeMars, is staying with her daughter, Mrs. Ves. Stinton, for
a few days.

Mrs. E. J. Stinton and son, Lyle, of Lucas, S.D., are visiting relatives
here.

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Hilliker and Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Hilliker, of Akron, were
visitors at the Harry Attrill home Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Baldwin entertained relatives from Washta, Iowa, over
Sunday.

Mrs. D. M. Baker and Mrs. Will Zellers went to DesMoines last week to visit
their son and brother, Perry Baker, at Camp Dodge.

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. King and son, Stanley, are visiting their brothers, Sam,
at Burdock, N.D., and Blaine, at Haley, N.D.

WESTFIELD WRITE-UPS:  (Special Correspondence)

Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Warrant departed Friday for a few days visit in the Jas.
Warren home at Lennox, S.D.

The young ladies of the Congregational Sunday school were well pleased with
their bake sale last Saturday.  They realized $10.00 from the bake sale and
lemonade.

Mr. and Mrs. Archer Lilly motored to the city last Thursday evening, but
owing to the heavy rain they returned Friday morning on the train.

Mrs. F. Mills and the Misses Blanch Beaulieu and Gertrude Martin attended
the funeral of the three people who met death in the auto accident Monday
when they auto in which they were riding broke through the railing and
plunged into the Big Sioux river at North Riverside.  The funerals were held
from St. Peter's Catholic church at Jefferson.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Husted and baby were over-Sunday visitors in the Ed.
Warren home at Vermillion.

A great many from here attended the Ringlings Bros. circus in the city last
Monday.

Mr. Gant returned from a visit with his son, George, who is in Canada.

Mrs. Emma Martin's fine modern home is rapidly nearing completion.

Mrs. E. Harbeck left Monday for her home in the city after a two weeks stay
in the Jno. Conway home.

The Ladies Aid is meeting today in the home of Mrs. W. F. Scott.

Mrs. Jas. Robinson arrived here for an extended visit in the home of her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Milo Mills.  They have disposed of their meat market
in an Iowa town.

Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Lilly and Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Lilly attended the funeral
of Miss Addie Hunter, who was laid to rest in Logan Park cemetery Friday.

Gus. Martin was taken with a severe attack of appendicitis Monday morning.
Dr. Brunner was called and took him at once to St. Joseph's hospital in
Sioux City, where he submitted to an operation that afternoon.  He is now
getting along as well as could be expected.

The interior of the Congregational church is being treated to a new coat of
paint and is receiving a cleaning in general.  Harry Gettle, of Elk Point,
is doing the work.

A few from here attended the ball game in Jefferson Sunday between Elk Point
and Jefferson, the latter winning the game.  Harry Feltis pitched the game
for the visitors.  In the game between Akron and Elk Point, Wednesday, he
established his old record for Elk Point, pitching a no hit, no score game.
The score was 1 to 0 in favor of Elk Point.

Miss Carrie Nelson, of Sioux City, spent last week with her friend, Mrs. M.
Flynn, and also visited the family of her cousin, Thos. Gunderson, west of
here.