Hans Peterson, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Hans Peterson
RUN DOWN BY A TRAIN.
August Wilson and Hans Peterson Killed Near Dune Park.
A horrible accident happened at 10:30 Saturday night, in which August Wilson and Hans Peterson, two well known citizens of Dune Park, lost their lives. The particulars of the sad affair, as gathered by the TRIBUNE reporter are as follows.
Wilson is a section foreman on the Lake Shore road, between Millers and Dune Park, and Peterson works under him. It was Wilson's custom to take the speeder, and go to Millers to do his trading and get his mail, and on this road he went on the fatal night. After doing his trading, he invited Peterson to ride home with him. The offer was accepted, and the two men started down the Lake Shore track aboard the speeder. About the time the two men left Millers, the sand train, with engine No. 172, which runs between the sand pits and Chicago, left Dune Park. The engine carries two headlights, one in the rear and one in the front, and pulled but four cars. Being behind time, it was running at terrific speed. Just how the men were caught, will perhaps never be known. The engineer nor none of the crew knew when the speeder was struck, which is acocunted for from the fact that the engine was running backwards.
Sunday morning Charley Chellburg, section boss, adjoining Wilson's was patrolling his section, and discovered the bodies. The men were found about one hundred feet from the speeder, one lying between the double track and the other on the embankment. Neither of the bodies were mangled. The speed of the train knocked the men clear of the wheels. On discovering the dead bodies, Chellburg returned to Millers, and with the aid of Agent Cook, brought them to that station and as the accident occurred in Lake county, Coroner R. E. Mackey was notified. He arrived Sunday afternoon, and after viewing the remains, turned the bodies over to their friends.
The funeral of both men was held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Swedish Lutheran church at Millers, and was largely attended. Wilson was a member of the Independent Order of Foresters of America, and a member of Court Chesterton. Courts Hobart and Chesterton attended the funeral in regalia. The remains were buried in the cemetery at Millers.
August Wilson was born September 25, 1872, in Sweden, and came to this country in 1890, locating at Dune Park. He had been section foreman two years. He was married to Miss Hannah Hokenson, of Lake Station, in 1894, and the fruits of this union is one child. Wilson was a sober, industrious young man, who was esteemed by all who knew him. By his foresight he leaves his little family in comfortable circumstances, as he carried a thousand dollar insurance policy in the Mutual Life Insurance company, and a thousand dollar policy in the Independent Order of Foresters of America.
Hans Peterson was a single man 34 years old, who had been working at Dune Park about a year. He boarded at John Donaldson's, and worked on the section for Wilson. He had no relatives in this country, but had a mother and sister in Sweden. When found, he had a receipt in his pocket for money sent them.
The sad accident has cast a gloom over the little settlement and sympathy unstinted goes out to the bereaved young wife and her little one.
Newspaper: The Westchester Tribune
Date of Publication: August 15, 1896
Volume Number: 13
Issue Number: 18
Page: 1
Column(s): 1 and 2
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook