Mandan Daily Pioneer, Monday, September 24, 1923, Page 1.
FIFTH BOY NEAR DEATH IN LOCAL HOSPITAL TODAY
Funeral services at 3 o'clock this afternoon conducted by Rev. W. R. Thatcher at the Kennelly chapel for four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt, McClusky, N. D.- Herbert 10, Irving 5, Robert 3, and Emmanuel 18 months-with interment taking place in the Mandan Union cemetery, closed a grim chapter in the life tragedy of the family.
Herbert, Robert and Emmanuel were instantly killed and Irving died within half an hour, when about five o'clock Saturday afternoon Northern Pacific train No. 4 struck the automobile in which Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt and their seven sons were westward bound at a crossing two and a half miles west of Almont.
The car, a Ford, was cut in half and the half dozen boys in the rear seat thrown many yards. The train was stopped within its length. Three of the boys were found dead, one suffered injuries from which he died on the train enroute to a hospital here, while another, Joseph, aged 9, suffered a fractured skull, crushing ribs and internal injuries from which he hovers between life and death in the Mandan Deaconess hospital.
The family was taken aboard the train, Dr. O. C. Gaebe was picked up at New Salem and assistance secured from medical men and nurses aboard the train and the injured rushed here to the hospital. The infant son, Andrew, whom Mrs. Axt carried in her lap, and about three months old, was the only member of the family unhurt.
The victims were:
Johan Axt, father, gashed hand, injured knee.
Mrs. Axt, bruised shoulder, minor cuts.
Herbert, 10, instantly killed.
Joseph, 9, fractured skull, may live.
Harold, 7, injured hip.
Irving, 5, died of injuries.
Robert, 3, instantly killed.
Emmanuel, 18 months, instantly killed.
Andrew, 3 months, unhurt.
The grim tragedy which snuffed out the lives of four sons, and may cause the death of the fifth, is the last stroked of an unkind fate which seemingly has pursued the family.
Johan Axt moved into the McClusky, N. D. neighborhood about 10 years ago and took up a homestead north of that town. Farming failed to pay, and after a succession of crop failures his home was foreclosed upon recently.
Then, when almost destitute, brighter days seemed to be due. A cousin, Andrew Axt, came to his rescue, according to the story told by the grief stricken father and mother. Andrew had a little money. A job was landed for Johan in California. Andrew bought a car for Johan and loading what few possessions they had in two cars they started Friday morning for the land of promise, a trip on which Andrew was paying all the expenses, and which Fate rudely decreed should be stopped at Almont where it had barely begun
Coroner J. K. Kennelly was to conduct an inquest late this afternoon to fix the cause of the accident. C. P. O'Rourke, Frank Wetzstein and G. P. Rugg, empaneled as a coroner's jury, Coroner Kennelly and others went up to the scene of the tragedy on N. P. train No. 7 this afternoon and were to return on Train No. 4.
Andreas Axt, the cousin, and his wife, Fireman Art Hammerel, Engineer McLean, Traveling-Engineer Francis McDonald, and the mother and father of the victims were to be examined.
Traveling Engineer Francis McDonald riding on the fireman's box, and the fireman both declared the crossing was whistled for, the former riding the engine to especially check the enging crew on whistling.
Hammerel declared Saturday after the accident that Axt appeared to slow down before the crossing, then to speed up again. Other railroad men declare the crossing in question is not a dangerous one in any way. There is nothing to obscure the view and the track to the west is visible for two miles or more.
Commissioner A. C. Booth of the McClusky district of Sheridan county arrived int he city late this afternoon in connection with the case. The expenses of burial of the four little victims will be met by the county board of Sheridan county it was indicated.
Johan Axt did not see the train, he told a Daily Pioneer reporter. He has a defective right eye - the train came from the right - and the setting sun was bright and dazzling.
"I didn't see the train" he said. "I didn't see it until I was on the track and my wife screamed to stop. I put on the brakes. The train hit us."
If the wife hadn't screamed "stop" and the brakes had not been applied said witnesses, the car would have cleared to safety. It was the brief few seconds between life and death; the brief few seconds by which the pilot of the engine was able to rip the rear seat with its cargo of six boys from the car.
FIFTH BOY NEAR DEATH IN LOCAL HOSPITAL TODAY
Funeral services at 3 o'clock this afternoon conducted by Rev. W. R. Thatcher at the Kennelly chapel for four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt, McClusky, N. D.- Herbert 10, Irving 5, Robert 3, and Emmanuel 18 months-with interment taking place in the Mandan Union cemetery, closed a grim chapter in the life tragedy of the family.
Herbert, Robert and Emmanuel were instantly killed and Irving died within half an hour, when about five o'clock Saturday afternoon Northern Pacific train No. 4 struck the automobile in which Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt and their seven sons were westward bound at a crossing two and a half miles west of Almont.
The car, a Ford, was cut in half and the half dozen boys in the rear seat thrown many yards. The train was stopped within its length. Three of the boys were found dead, one suffered injuries from which he died on the train enroute to a hospital here, while another, Joseph, aged 9, suffered a fractured skull, crushing ribs and internal injuries from which he hovers between life and death in the Mandan Deaconess hospital.
The family was taken aboard the train, Dr. O. C. Gaebe was picked up at New Salem and assistance secured from medical men and nurses aboard the train and the injured rushed here to the hospital. The infant son, Andrew, whom Mrs. Axt carried in her lap, and about three months old, was the only member of the family unhurt.
The victims were:
Johan Axt, father, gashed hand, injured knee.
Mrs. Axt, bruised shoulder, minor cuts.
Herbert, 10, instantly killed.
Joseph, 9, fractured skull, may live.
Harold, 7, injured hip.
Irving, 5, died of injuries.
Robert, 3, instantly killed.
Emmanuel, 18 months, instantly killed.
Andrew, 3 months, unhurt.
The grim tragedy which snuffed out the lives of four sons, and may cause the death of the fifth, is the last stroked of an unkind fate which seemingly has pursued the family.
Johan Axt moved into the McClusky, N. D. neighborhood about 10 years ago and took up a homestead north of that town. Farming failed to pay, and after a succession of crop failures his home was foreclosed upon recently.
Then, when almost destitute, brighter days seemed to be due. A cousin, Andrew Axt, came to his rescue, according to the story told by the grief stricken father and mother. Andrew had a little money. A job was landed for Johan in California. Andrew bought a car for Johan and loading what few possessions they had in two cars they started Friday morning for the land of promise, a trip on which Andrew was paying all the expenses, and which Fate rudely decreed should be stopped at Almont where it had barely begun
Coroner J. K. Kennelly was to conduct an inquest late this afternoon to fix the cause of the accident. C. P. O'Rourke, Frank Wetzstein and G. P. Rugg, empaneled as a coroner's jury, Coroner Kennelly and others went up to the scene of the tragedy on N. P. train No. 7 this afternoon and were to return on Train No. 4.
Andreas Axt, the cousin, and his wife, Fireman Art Hammerel, Engineer McLean, Traveling-Engineer Francis McDonald, and the mother and father of the victims were to be examined.
Traveling Engineer Francis McDonald riding on the fireman's box, and the fireman both declared the crossing was whistled for, the former riding the engine to especially check the enging crew on whistling.
Hammerel declared Saturday after the accident that Axt appeared to slow down before the crossing, then to speed up again. Other railroad men declare the crossing in question is not a dangerous one in any way. There is nothing to obscure the view and the track to the west is visible for two miles or more.
Commissioner A. C. Booth of the McClusky district of Sheridan county arrived int he city late this afternoon in connection with the case. The expenses of burial of the four little victims will be met by the county board of Sheridan county it was indicated.
Johan Axt did not see the train, he told a Daily Pioneer reporter. He has a defective right eye - the train came from the right - and the setting sun was bright and dazzling.
"I didn't see the train" he said. "I didn't see it until I was on the track and my wife screamed to stop. I put on the brakes. The train hit us."
If the wife hadn't screamed "stop" and the brakes had not been applied said witnesses, the car would have cleared to safety. It was the brief few seconds between life and death; the brief few seconds by which the pilot of the engine was able to rip the rear seat with its cargo of six boys from the car.
Mandan Daily Pioneer, Monday, September 24, 1923, Page 1.
FIFTH BOY NEAR DEATH IN LOCAL HOSPITAL TODAY
Funeral services at 3 o'clock this afternoon conducted by Rev. W. R. Thatcher at the Kennelly chapel for four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt, McClusky, N. D.- Herbert 10, Irving 5, Robert 3, and Emmanuel 18 months-with interment taking place in the Mandan Union cemetery, closed a grim chapter in the life tragedy of the family.
Herbert, Robert and Emmanuel were instantly killed and Irving died within half an hour, when about five o'clock Saturday afternoon Northern Pacific train No. 4 struck the automobile in which Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt and their seven sons were westward bound at a crossing two and a half miles west of Almont.
The car, a Ford, was cut in half and the half dozen boys in the rear seat thrown many yards. The train was stopped within its length. Three of the boys were found dead, one suffered injuries from which he died on the train enroute to a hospital here, while another, Joseph, aged 9, suffered a fractured skull, crushing ribs and internal injuries from which he hovers between life and death in the Mandan Deaconess hospital.
The family was taken aboard the train, Dr. O. C. Gaebe was picked up at New Salem and assistance secured from medical men and nurses aboard the train and the injured rushed here to the hospital. The infant son, Andrew, whom Mrs. Axt carried in her lap, and about three months old, was the only member of the family unhurt.
The victims were:
Johan Axt, father, gashed hand, injured knee.
Mrs. Axt, bruised shoulder, minor cuts.
Herbert, 10, instantly killed.
Joseph, 9, fractured skull, may live.
Harold, 7, injured hip.
Irving, 5, died of injuries.
Robert, 3, instantly killed.
Emmanuel, 18 months, instantly killed.
Andrew, 3 months, unhurt.
The grim tragedy which snuffed out the lives of four sons, and may cause the death of the fifth, is the last stroked of an unkind fate which seemingly has pursued the family.
Johan Axt moved into the McClusky, N. D. neighborhood about 10 years ago and took up a homestead north of that town. Farming failed to pay, and after a succession of crop failures his home was foreclosed upon recently.
Then, when almost destitute, brighter days seemed to be due. A cousin, Andrew Axt, came to his rescue, according to the story told by the grief stricken father and mother. Andrew had a little money. A job was landed for Johan in California. Andrew bought a car for Johan and loading what few possessions they had in two cars they started Friday morning for the land of promise, a trip on which Andrew was paying all the expenses, and which Fate rudely decreed should be stopped at Almont where it had barely begun
Coroner J. K. Kennelly was to conduct an inquest late this afternoon to fix the cause of the accident. C. P. O'Rourke, Frank Wetzstein and G. P. Rugg, empaneled as a coroner's jury, Coroner Kennelly and others went up to the scene of the tragedy on N. P. train No. 7 this afternoon and were to return on Train No. 4.
Andreas Axt, the cousin, and his wife, Fireman Art Hammerel, Engineer McLean, Traveling-Engineer Francis McDonald, and the mother and father of the victims were to be examined.
Traveling Engineer Francis McDonald riding on the fireman's box, and the fireman both declared the crossing was whistled for, the former riding the engine to especially check the enging crew on whistling.
Hammerel declared Saturday after the accident that Axt appeared to slow down before the crossing, then to speed up again. Other railroad men declare the crossing in question is not a dangerous one in any way. There is nothing to obscure the view and the track to the west is visible for two miles or more.
Commissioner A. C. Booth of the McClusky district of Sheridan county arrived int he city late this afternoon in connection with the case. The expenses of burial of the four little victims will be met by the county board of Sheridan county it was indicated.
Johan Axt did not see the train, he told a Daily Pioneer reporter. He has a defective right eye - the train came from the right - and the setting sun was bright and dazzling.
"I didn't see the train" he said. "I didn't see it until I was on the track and my wife screamed to stop. I put on the brakes. The train hit us."
If the wife hadn't screamed "stop" and the brakes had not been applied said witnesses, the car would have cleared to safety. It was the brief few seconds between life and death; the brief few seconds by which the pilot of the engine was able to rip the rear seat with its cargo of six boys from the car.
FIFTH BOY NEAR DEATH IN LOCAL HOSPITAL TODAY
Funeral services at 3 o'clock this afternoon conducted by Rev. W. R. Thatcher at the Kennelly chapel for four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt, McClusky, N. D.- Herbert 10, Irving 5, Robert 3, and Emmanuel 18 months-with interment taking place in the Mandan Union cemetery, closed a grim chapter in the life tragedy of the family.
Herbert, Robert and Emmanuel were instantly killed and Irving died within half an hour, when about five o'clock Saturday afternoon Northern Pacific train No. 4 struck the automobile in which Mr. and Mrs. Johan Axt and their seven sons were westward bound at a crossing two and a half miles west of Almont.
The car, a Ford, was cut in half and the half dozen boys in the rear seat thrown many yards. The train was stopped within its length. Three of the boys were found dead, one suffered injuries from which he died on the train enroute to a hospital here, while another, Joseph, aged 9, suffered a fractured skull, crushing ribs and internal injuries from which he hovers between life and death in the Mandan Deaconess hospital.
The family was taken aboard the train, Dr. O. C. Gaebe was picked up at New Salem and assistance secured from medical men and nurses aboard the train and the injured rushed here to the hospital. The infant son, Andrew, whom Mrs. Axt carried in her lap, and about three months old, was the only member of the family unhurt.
The victims were:
Johan Axt, father, gashed hand, injured knee.
Mrs. Axt, bruised shoulder, minor cuts.
Herbert, 10, instantly killed.
Joseph, 9, fractured skull, may live.
Harold, 7, injured hip.
Irving, 5, died of injuries.
Robert, 3, instantly killed.
Emmanuel, 18 months, instantly killed.
Andrew, 3 months, unhurt.
The grim tragedy which snuffed out the lives of four sons, and may cause the death of the fifth, is the last stroked of an unkind fate which seemingly has pursued the family.
Johan Axt moved into the McClusky, N. D. neighborhood about 10 years ago and took up a homestead north of that town. Farming failed to pay, and after a succession of crop failures his home was foreclosed upon recently.
Then, when almost destitute, brighter days seemed to be due. A cousin, Andrew Axt, came to his rescue, according to the story told by the grief stricken father and mother. Andrew had a little money. A job was landed for Johan in California. Andrew bought a car for Johan and loading what few possessions they had in two cars they started Friday morning for the land of promise, a trip on which Andrew was paying all the expenses, and which Fate rudely decreed should be stopped at Almont where it had barely begun
Coroner J. K. Kennelly was to conduct an inquest late this afternoon to fix the cause of the accident. C. P. O'Rourke, Frank Wetzstein and G. P. Rugg, empaneled as a coroner's jury, Coroner Kennelly and others went up to the scene of the tragedy on N. P. train No. 7 this afternoon and were to return on Train No. 4.
Andreas Axt, the cousin, and his wife, Fireman Art Hammerel, Engineer McLean, Traveling-Engineer Francis McDonald, and the mother and father of the victims were to be examined.
Traveling Engineer Francis McDonald riding on the fireman's box, and the fireman both declared the crossing was whistled for, the former riding the engine to especially check the enging crew on whistling.
Hammerel declared Saturday after the accident that Axt appeared to slow down before the crossing, then to speed up again. Other railroad men declare the crossing in question is not a dangerous one in any way. There is nothing to obscure the view and the track to the west is visible for two miles or more.
Commissioner A. C. Booth of the McClusky district of Sheridan county arrived int he city late this afternoon in connection with the case. The expenses of burial of the four little victims will be met by the county board of Sheridan county it was indicated.
Johan Axt did not see the train, he told a Daily Pioneer reporter. He has a defective right eye - the train came from the right - and the setting sun was bright and dazzling.
"I didn't see the train" he said. "I didn't see it until I was on the track and my wife screamed to stop. I put on the brakes. The train hit us."
If the wife hadn't screamed "stop" and the brakes had not been applied said witnesses, the car would have cleared to safety. It was the brief few seconds between life and death; the brief few seconds by which the pilot of the engine was able to rip the rear seat with its cargo of six boys from the car.
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