George Wood, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
George Wood
RAILROAD HORRORS.
Charles Heinke, a Well-Known Porter County Farmer, Hurled Into Eternity on the B. &. O.
George Wood Meets a Similar Fate at Valparaiso, on the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne Railroad.
Last Sunday morning there occurred one of those fearful and heart-rending accidents which shock the community by their suddenness, and prostrate the family and friends of the victim. This time, one of Northern Porter county's best known and substantial farmers, was hurled into eternity without a moment's warning, in a most unexpected way. The victim was Mr. Charles Heinke, whose home is just east of Brown's Mill, in Liberty township. On the morning in question, Mr. Heinke drove to Woodville to take a load of milk to the milk train, as has been his custom for the past month. On reaching Woodville he unloaded his cans on the platform, and had tied his horse. Just then someone said "There comes the fast train." On hearing this, Mr. Heinke rushed to his horse, and started to get across the track just in front of Freer's store. It seems that on getting on the buggy the lines were wrapped around the whip, and when crossing the track he was unloosening them. Just as he got safely across, the animal whirled around so short as to almost overturn the buggy and got on the track just in time to be struck by "Limited" passenger train No. 15, going west. This train was due at Woodville at 6:47 but was 20 minutes late, and was attempting to make up time. Spectators say that the speed at which the train was going was 70 miles an hour. The horse was torn all to pieces, and Mr. Heinke was killed instantly. His body was badly mangled and crushed. The buggy and harness were literally torn to shreds. The whole thing occupied so little time, and done right before the eyes of several people, that they were completely dazed, and none know how it really did happen. The engineer of the limited, John Bowersox, stopped his train and backed up to the station. He say, he saw Mr. Heinke on the track and was going to blow the whistle, but was afraid if he did it would scare the horse and cause it to run away. He saw the rig clear the track, and was almost on them when the horse whirled around. Then he reversed his engine, but it was too late.
Undertaker Lundberg, of Chesterton went to the scene of the accident, and coffined the remains of the unfortunate man. The Coroner was notified, but he could not come, owing to the fact that he was holding an inquest on Monday, the inquest was held Tuesday at 10 o'clock.
The funeral was held on Tuesday from the family residence, and was largely attended. Mr. Heinke was born in Germany and was 52 years old last September. He leaves a wife and four grown children, three girls and one boy to mourn his sad fate.
The Fort Wayne road have a train of one coach and locomotive employed in conveying workmen from Wanatah to their labors in the sand pits near Clark Station, and returning them to their homes in the evening. The coach is side-tracked at Wanatah and the locomotive backed here to be housed for the night. It was this locomotive, with John Mcarty engineer, that caused the death of George Wood, Saturday evening at 6:30 o'clock at the Napoleon street crossing, Valparaiso.
George Wood and Mrs. Wood were on their way home. While crossing the track they were struck by the engine. George Wood was thrown out of the buggy upon the track, the engine passing over him, cutting one arm and the back of the head, and otherwise bruising the body. He was carried to the Continental Hotal, where he died in a few minutes thereafter. Mrs. Wood was thrown to one side of the track and escaped with injuries about the head, which is thought will not prove fatal. She was also taken to the Continental Hotal, and, at last reports, is in a fair condition to recover.
The horses were cut loose from the buggy, and were not injured excepting a piece of skin being torn from the thigh of one.
The buggy was badly wrecked and the spokes of the wheels were nearly all knocked out.
George Wood was a young single man, aged 26 years, and the son of a widowed mother living upon a farm near Salem, south-west of town. His funeral took place to-day.
Mrs. Charles Wood resides with her husband at Denver, Colorado. She is a sister-in-law of the deceased, and is here visiting. Mrs. Wood and the deceased are relatives of J. W. Wood and J. D. Hollett, of this city.
-- Valparaiso Star.
Newspaper: The Tribune
Date of Publication: July 3, 1890
Volume Number: 7
Issue Number: 12
Page: 1
Column(s): 6
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