Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 131, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1909 — “Bill” Hoover Had a Close Call From Injury or. Death. [ARTICLE]

“Bill” Hoover Had a Close Call From Injury or. Death.

Will Hoover, jr., narrowly escaped death or serious injury at the depot railroad crossing this Saturday morning.. He was driving a team hitched to a corn wagon and did not hear the electric bell at the crossing nor see the passenger train due here at 10:55, approaching from the north, several box cars on the side track obstructing the view. His horses’ front feet were on the track when persons on the depot platform attracted his attention and he pulled them back just as the train rushed by. The engineer saw the. danger and gave two quick whistles. The near-accident calls attention to the grave need of a gate system at this crossing. Several accidents have been narrowly averted and it is only a question of time until some one is killed there. The electric bell is only a partial protection. When a driver Mas a cap pulled down over his ears and the wagon wheels are creaking in the snow the bell can not be heard.