Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Train Wreck
January 30, 1909
Engineer Warner Killed
Meets Instant Death in Head End Freight
Collision Wednesday Afternoon.
Horace O. Warner
of this city was instantly killed in a head-end
collision between a southbound work train and a
northbound coal special at Oshkosh at 3 o’clock
Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Warner was the engineer
on the special and is reported to have been
literally ground to pieces in the wreckage of
the engine.
The wreck occurred on a curved track and the
work train, which was loaded with ties, was
slowing up for the derail switch at the bridge,
when the special coming up from the south at a
great speed, pushed by a helping engine, crashed
into it. A statement as to where the blame lies
for the collision has not yet been received.
Both engines are reported to have been
demolished and the one which had been pulling
the special was turned completely around.
Traffic was delayed for several hours.
M. H. Lied
of Rockfield and G. W.
Brown of Fond du Lac, first and
second firemen for Warner, jumped and escaped
serious injury. E.
Baney of North Fond du Lac, engineer
on the work train, was injured and was removed
to St. Mary’s hospital in an ambulance.
A brief report of the accident was received here
shortly after 5 o’clock, and soon after six
another message was received announcing the
fatal injury of Warner and asking that his
relatives be notified. His brother-in-law,
John Gaetz, and
H. D. Boston
left on the midnight train for Oshkosh to secure
the body and returned with it this evening at
5:15. On arrival here the remains were taken to
the Gaetz
home at 621 Water street.
Horace O. Warner
was born in Stevens Point on June 23, 1881, and
was the only son of
Horace O. Warner, sr., and
Catherine Page. His father died a
month before he was born. Some years later Mrs.
Warner married Horace
A. Warner, a distant relative of her
former husband. He also died many years ago and
Mrs. Warner’s death occurred in this city seven
years ago in May. Horace spent his boyhood in
Stevens Point, and when only seventeen years of
age he took a position with the Wisconsin
Central and rapidly worked himself up from
call-boy to engineer. He had been in charge of
an engine for about six years. For some years he
had made his headquarters most of the time in
North Fond du Lac, where his address was 509
Wisconsin avenue. He had always called Stevens
Point his home, and when here visited with his
sister, Mrs. John Gaetz.
He was here for a week during the holidays and
was also here on Wednesday of last week to
attend the funeral of his great-aunt,
Mrs. D. C. Brown.
The deceased was a young man of intelligence,
ambition and character, thoroughly trustworthy
and reliable, and had many warm friends here.
Besides his sister he leaves a half-brother,
Amasa Warner,
now employed in the local paper mills.
The funeral will be held from the Baptist church
at 10:30 o’clock Saturday morning. The interment
will be made in the McDill cemetery.
The Stevens Point Journal, Stevens Point,
WI 30 Jan 1909
Transcribed by
Mary
Saggio. Thank you Mary!
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