Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1892 — A Terrible Casualty. [ARTICLE]

A Terrible Casualty.

A MAN AND HIS WIFE INSTANTLY KILLED IN RENSSELAER. The most terrible accident in the history of Jasper Co. occured Tues day afternoon, on the railroad crossing about a half of a mile east of the Rensselaer Depot. Knicley Bennett and his wife, Emily J. Bennett, old and well known residents of Barkley tp. were leaving Rensselaer for home, m a lumber wagon; they had just driven upon the crossing when they were struck by the afternoon vestibule train bound north, and which was nearly an hoar late. The crossing is in plain view of the depot, and many persons witnessed the accident from there. Although the train must have beeff —in plain view to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett they appeared not to have been aware of its approach until it was almost upon them. Mr. Bennett then stopped the horses as with a view to back from the tracks, then seemed to change his mind and to hurry the horses over. The train struck the wagon just about the front wheels. Mr. Bennett was thrown

high in air and fell upon the step of the engine. His chest was cut open to such au extent that his vitals were exposed. His skull was crushed and a large splinter, evidently from the wagon, was driven several inches into his brain. Both arms were also broken. Mrs. Bennett was not much mangled. Her skull wag crushed in, on the same spot as was her husband’s, and her left shoulder was broken. She also had some bruises. In the case of both, death must have been instantaneous. Both horses were killed I and the wagon <|emolished. The! train was stopped and backed up and : the bodies placed on board and taken to the station. *Tfae train waited at the station until Coroner Benjamin could come to learn the names an d addresses of the engineer and conductor, of the train and then went

on. Mr. Justice was conductor of the train and Mr. Kline the engineer. Most of .those who saw the accident do not seem to attach any blame to train men for it. The bodies were taken to Undertaker Wright’s establishment, where a partial inquest was held, and which will be completed next Monday. The bodies were then taken to the home of Mrs. J. B. Clemens, a daughter-in-law of Mr. Bennett, by her first husband. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon, at the Christian church, and the remains were then taken to Barkley tp., for interment. A sad incident of the occurrence was that a daughter of Mrs. Bennett by a former husband, Miss Rosa Nicholson, by name, was upon- the train when her mother and step-fath-erwere killed.—: —

Of the various theories advanced to account for the fact that the occupants of the wagon did.not see the train until it was close upon them, the most reasonable is that they were engaged in eating a lunch they bad in the wagon, the remains of which were found, after the accident, and they were so busily occupied that they did not think to watch for a train, as they approached the crossing. Mr. Bennett’s oldest son, first husband of Mrs. Clemens, was killed by a Monon train, at LaCross, some 7 or 8 years ago. Mr. Bennett was nearly 65 years old; his wife nearly 61.

Special Notice To Fabmeos.— Never were we before so able to give yon as good a boot or shoe for the money as we will be this fall. Why 1s this? Because, leather is is down, we have bought of the most reliable and cheapest factories of the U. S. and we have cut all leather goods at least 5 peroent from the usual price. We can save you mon- > *

I. J. PORTER.