BY RAIL TO ETERNITY
The Scene of the Tragedy at Soapstone Cut Visited by a Tribune Reporter
Complete List of the Killed and Wounded—Travel will not be Delayed.
The Wreck.
Mandan, March 21.—[Special]—A serious accident occurred at 8 o'clock tonight to Jack Simmons' work train, at the bridge crossing Hart river two miles east of Sweetbriar. The facts are as follows: The snow-plow which was clearing the track was followed by Simmons' train, carrying twentyfive men in three sleeping cars, and immediately behind this came the regular passenger, No. 4. The trains approached the bridge, and the plow had passed safely as did the engine of Simmons' train. The sleepers of the train, however, for some reason jumped the track, and immediately four bents of the bridge gave way, the sleepers piling into the river with a terrific crash. As soon as results could be ascertained it was found that nine of the workmen were killed outright, and ten or a dozen injured, some seriously. The cars at once took fire after the fall, and were partially burned, two of the ill-fated workmen being consumed in the flames.
THE NAMES OF THE KILLED,
as recognized by their friends, were as follows:
Ole Johnson, found with one leg partially burned to ashes, head smashed and arms over his head as if suffering intense agony. He had just sent for his family in Norway to join him at Bismarck.
Thos. Wilson was found about ten feet from Johnson, a charred mess.
Wm. Watson was lying with one arm over his head and the other with hand burned off completely.
J. McCormick was found in a roll of blankets. He was probably first smothered and then burned.
Thos. Grady was found with head burned nearly off. A charred pocketbook was found beside him, containing some time checks and a considerable sum of money.
Geo. Moser, James O'Brien and Wm. McAndrews were found in similar positions.
THE INJURED.
George Miller, American, without relatives or friends, arm broken and cut badly about the head.
T. O. Berry, shoulder dislocated and cuts about the face.
The following received but slight injuries and are now being taken care of by the Northern Pacific officials here.
M. Hanson, Peter Lombard, A. Sunstrom, Jas. Kennedy, Pete Mann, John Percelles, Thomas Connors, Nels Quanstrom, Fred Mosher, Fred Harris, Chas. Corwin, Chas. Lanagan, Wm. Brennan, Chas. Sage, John Naery, Joe Smith, Jas. Donegan, F. O. Berry, Henry Mann, W. J. Babcock, Thoas. McQueen.
Messrs. Simons and Duncan who run the boarding train for the North Pacific, had over $700 in the rear car which was saved.
Thos. O'Connor, engineer of the fated train says the wreck caught fire almost instantly.
THE CORONER'S JURY
found the wreck to have been accidental and both train men and North Pacific officials are held guiltless.
A partially burned book with the following rather suggestive title was found in the ruins, "Knowledge is Safety."
The wreck is being rapidly cleared away and Superintendent Taylor says trains will be running on time again to-day.
Bismarck Tribune, 3/24/1882
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HOODLUMS AT RAY ARRESTED BY OFFICIALS
Broke Into Schoolhouse and Held Midnight "Parties" to Own Satisfaction
(Special to The Tribune.)
Ray, N.D., April 2.—The midnight "feeds" have come to an abrupt end, and one of the toughest gang of youngsters has been broken by officials of this city and members of the schoolboard.
There will be no more sliding down the coal shute into the schoolhouse or forcing the doors or the windows of the building pen {sp}. Once inside the gang, consisting of 12 to 17 fellows, would prepare midnight suppers for "parties" in the domestic science room.
Last Saturday night they became wild. They grew wilder every hour. The members of the gang broke furniture, broke open the teacher's desks, ruined the typewriter owned by Professor Towell, besides leaving crumbs and other articles on the desks of the school children.
An investigation was ordered by the members of the schoolboard. A few were singled out and confessed the story which led to the arrest of the membership of the gang.
Bismarck Tribune, 4/2/1917
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Seized at Grand Forks.
Michael Kearns, a pioneer of the Red river valley and resident of Emerado, was arrested at Grand Forks on a charge of grand larceny brought by Angus Wood, proprietor of a saloon of East Grand Forks. It is charged that Kearns, while he was intoxicated, signed a check for $50, payable at an Emerado bank. When he had become sober he is said to have admitted that he had no funds in the bank. Kearns will resist extradtion to Minnesota.
Wahpeton Times, 3/14/1907
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Mr. Botten, an aged citizen of
Grano, dropped dead in the blacksmith shop while reading a newspaper. His remains were buried at Breckinridge
{sp}, Minn.
Ward County Independent, 3/18/1915
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Shot Proved Fatal
Bowbell Tribune: Geo. Carlisle a young man from near Pleasant who was accidentally shot by the premature discharge of a gun in the hands of a companion, Chas. Ennis, while hunting wolves near the Mouse River one day recently, died at Kenmare last night as a result of his injuries. The charge of shot struck the injured man in the hip, tearing a hole about nine inches long. In this condition he was taken to Kenmare, a distance of twenty-four miles, in a sleigh, before a doctor could be reached. He was attended by Drs. Windell and Rainvelle of Kenmare, who removed a large number of shot and particles of clothing from the wound, and later on, the patient becoming worse Dr. Windell was called from Minot, but despite all their efforts and care, death seemed inevitable as the charge of shot scattered premisculously {sp} through the man's body, and death came to his releif {sp} last evening.
Ward County Independent, 2/25/1903
Ed. note: I believe the repetition of the surname "Windell" was an error.
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John Lawrence, a young man working on the Adams farm, committed suicide last Friday night by hanging himself. When it was learned Saturday that the young man had not been in his bed all night, his brothers set out to look for him and were greatly astonished to find him hanging on a rope that had been tied to a beam in one of the barns. No cause for this tragic act can be found. The young man was only 17 years of age, and always appeared to be in good spirits. He was a son of respectable parents who reside near Wahpeton. He also has two brothers that are employed on the Adams farm, one of them being the book keeper there.
Hankinson News, 7/12/1906
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