Sad Story
A grave-marker at Lakeview Cemetery in West Salem, Wisconsin, nine miles east of La Crosse. The date on the grave-marker is incorrect as I checked La Crosse newspaper files and could find no mention of a train related death for November 23, 1936. However, I did find one for November 19 (see below) which checks out with the West Salem location. My guess is that the 23rd is when the unfortunate man was buried.
From the Friday, November 20, 1936, La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune:
Unidentified Man Killed By Train
An unidentified transient was instantly killed at 5 p.m. Thursday by the Milwaukee Railroad’s westbound No. 5 passenger train one-half mile west of the West Salem depot.Coroner Melford Nelson said the body was thrown nearly 150 feet by the train, falling to one side of the railroad right-of-way. Practically every bone in the man’s body was broken, the coroner said.The train crew reported the accident upon arrival in La Crosse, and section crews from West Salem found the body, notifying the coroner’s office.There were no letters or cards in the pockets of the man’s clothing. He was about 50-years-old, five feet eight inches tall and weighed about 130 pounds. He had blue eyes and a scar in the center of his chin. He wore a dark overcoat and blue overalls.The coroner said he was convinced the man was a transient because a mirror, razor, needle and thread, inner soles and other “equipment” of such wanderers were found in the clothing pockets.The body was left with Conrad Jostad, West Salem funeral director. Jostad aided Coroner Nelson in picking up the remains.
Sad Story
A grave-marker at Lakeview Cemetery in West Salem, Wisconsin, nine miles east of La Crosse. The date on the grave-marker is incorrect as I checked La Crosse newspaper files and could find no mention of a train related death for November 23, 1936. However, I did find one for November 19 (see below) which checks out with the West Salem location. My guess is that the 23rd is when the unfortunate man was buried.
From the Friday, November 20, 1936, La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune:
Unidentified Man Killed By Train
An unidentified transient was instantly killed at 5 p.m. Thursday by the Milwaukee Railroad’s westbound No. 5 passenger train one-half mile west of the West Salem depot.Coroner Melford Nelson said the body was thrown nearly 150 feet by the train, falling to one side of the railroad right-of-way. Practically every bone in the man’s body was broken, the coroner said.The train crew reported the accident upon arrival in La Crosse, and section crews from West Salem found the body, notifying the coroner’s office.There were no letters or cards in the pockets of the man’s clothing. He was about 50-years-old, five feet eight inches tall and weighed about 130 pounds. He had blue eyes and a scar in the center of his chin. He wore a dark overcoat and blue overalls.The coroner said he was convinced the man was a transient because a mirror, razor, needle and thread, inner soles and other “equipment” of such wanderers were found in the clothing pockets.The body was left with Conrad Jostad, West Salem funeral director. Jostad aided Coroner Nelson in picking up the remains.