Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1898 — Charley Van Pelt Killed by a Train. [ARTICLE]

Charley Van Pelt Killed by a Train.

A bad accident occurred at St. Johns, the first town north of Cedar Lake, Saturday night or Sunday morning. While track-walking on the Monon Charlie Van Pelt was struck by a south bound freight train, and instantly killed.- It is thought that he had gone to sleep beside the track. He was said to have been very badly mangled. Van Pelt was about 22 years old and lived in Monon. He was boss of an extra gang by day, but walked the track some at night. He was here most of last year, and became well known and was a very estimable and popular young man. He boarded at the Foster house while here and it is understood was engaged to Miss Bessie Foster. Sunday afternoon Miss Foster and her mother accompanied the remains to Monticello, where the funeral was held. The young man’s father is section foreman at Monticello. He has only one brotiier and he is in the regular army, in Cuba.