Lloyd R. Watrous, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Lloyd R. Watrous
MOTORMAN HAD ORDERS TO WAIT FOR FREIGHT CAR
Testimony at the Coroner's Inquest Concerning the Head-on Collision on Interurban Reveals Fact.
INQUEST NOT FINISHED.
(From Tuesday's Daily)
Coroner Walkinshaw's inquest, yesterday at Laporte, disclosed that Motorman Wickersham, who lost his life in the Gary and Interurban wreck Saturday, had a written order to stop at Brook's crossing to wait for the work train to pass. The order was found on Mr. Wickersham's person.
Conductor Payne testified that he, too, received a duplicate of the oder given Motorman Wickersham. The car stopped at the Brook's crossing to let a passenger off, said Payne, and when Motorman Wickersham started up again Payne supposed he would go into the siding, which is 75 feet beyond the crossing. When Wickersham failed to stop at the siding, Payne thought the work train had already taken the siding. He looked out and saw the work train was not there, and he immediately pulled the bell cord to stop the car. An instant later the crash came.
The coroner and members of the state railroad commission worked all day yesterday in their investigations, and about a dozen witnesses remained yet to be heard. E. J. Van Atter, train dispatcher, returned here last night, and has instructions to return to Laporte tomorrow.
Lloyd J. Watrous, one of the victims of the wreck, was 25 years of age and the principal, since last September, of the Union township high school at Union Center, Laporte county. He came from Chesapeake, O., to take charge of the school, and was valued very highly by Superintendent Farnum for his ability and successful management of the school. He was a graduate of Valparaiso university, and at the time of his death was returning from here, where he had spent the Christmas week vacation.
J. Willis Wickersham, the dead motorman, was one of the best known and most popular employes on the Gary and Interurban. He ahd been with the line for many years and was considered an exceptionally fine motorman. He was 26 years old on the 21st of last July, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Wickersham, of Laporte. He was born in Laporte county and had always lived there. Since his runs started and ended in Valparaiso, he had been making his headquarters here. Saturday morning, before starting on the run which proved to be his last, he telephoned his mother, wishing her a happy New Year and telling her he would see her that day. Besides the parents, Mr. Wickersham is survived by one sister, Mrs. Frank Beckwith of South Bend, and two brothers, Ralph W. Wickersham and Arthur Wickersham. The funeral was held today in Laporte.
Newspaper: The Porter County Vidette
Date of Publication: January 5, 1916
Volume Number:
Issue Number:
Page: 4
Column(s): 3
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