Published in the Blair Democrat July 5, 1917

Two Sent to Death By Speeding Train

Mrs. Ralph McMullen, 19, of Fontanelle, and John W. Jackman, 16, were instantly killed and Ralph McMullen is at the Nye Ave Hospital suffering with injuries sustained when North Western passenger train No. 1 struck the automobile in which they were riding at the Broad Street crossing north of Fremont Sunday forenoon. Mr. McMullen's injuries are not serious and he will recover, physicians say.

The train, running thirty-five minutes late on schedule, was traveling at a high rate of speed. Engineer Tom Shiveley, of Norfolk, who was at the throttle, said that he saw the automobile when he rounded the curve west of the crossing and that apparently Mr. McMullen attempted to stop and then started up again. When the engine struck the auto the car had almost stopped.

The bodies of Mrs. McMullen and the Jackman boy were carried over 100 feet east of the crossing on the pilot of the engine before they were hurled to one side. The body of Mrs. McMullen badly crushed and bruised, was picked up fifteen feet on the south side of the track. The body of the Jackman boy dropped off the pilot and remained on the top of the roadbed by the side of the rails.

The escape of Mr. McMullen with only bruises and cuts, having suffered no broken bones, is considered miraculous. He landed clear of the machine in the grass just over the barbwire fence. Mr. McMullen was at the wheel. He was picked up by trainmen and placed on the roadbed where he was lying when Sheriff Condit and Chief of Police Welton with physicians reached the scene.

Mrs. McMullen who was formerly Miss Emma Bader, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bader of Scribner, was born March 15, 1898. Her marriage to Mr. McMullen took place two years ago. Besides her husband, her parents, two brothers and four sisters survive her. The funeral of Mrs. McMullen was held at the Methodist Church in Hooper Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. to Dr. F. M. Sisson of the First Methodist Church of Fremont officiating. Burial was at the Hooper Cemetery.-Fremont Tribune.

Contributor: Sheila (47702527)
~The death date was established through John W. Jackman's Find A Grave Memorial #138677242~ ~~~ Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~