The Mulhall Enterprise

Saturday, November 7, 1896

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT

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Merrill Wise Run Over and Crushed to Death By a Freight Train.

On last Saturday the whole town was shocked by the news that one of the best and brightest boys in the community was crushed by the cars.

He was standing on the track and failed to see or hear an approaching train that was backing down upon him. Conductor Woodcock saw his danger and made a desperate effort to grasp him and drag him from the track. But too late just as the conductor's fingers touched the boy's shoulder he was struck by the rear car and fell across the rail. In a moment the frightful wheels were grinding him to death. When taken from the track both legs were crushed, one below and the other above the knee, and his right arm and hand were fearfully mutilated. He was tenderly borne to his home nearby, medical aid was summoned and he was made as comfortable as possible. He was conscious for some time and bore his suffering manfully. Many of his friends called to see him and when one lady stepped to his bedside he reached out to shake hands saying, "Excuse my left hand, please." It was evident to all that the shock and loss of blood were more than he could rally from, and at 1 o'clock a.m. he passed beyond the pale of suffering and was at peace.

Merrill, as everyone knew him was 13 years old. His was one of those manly yet gentle and lovable dispositions so rarely met with among boys and so universally loved and admired when met. He was a great favorite with his fellows, studious and kind at school, courteous and gentlemanly far beyond his years. He was two years under our instruction in school and taken all in all it is no discredit to the others to say he was one of the best boys we ever met. We cannot sometimes understand why it is that death seems to pluck the fairest flowers and search out the brightest jewels, and we can only conclude that it is not God's will that one of "these little ones should perish and can only ask in simple faith that He will bless and sanctity these sore afflictions to the good of His children. His widowed mother, elder brother and two sisters are not alone in their grief for the whole community join in their sorrow.

The funeral was conducted by Rev. J.H. Aughey at the Presbyterian church on Sunday evening and the remains were sadly followed to their last resting place by the entire school and a large concourse of sorrowing friends.

In Memoriam.

Merrill J. Wise died in Mulhall on November 1, 1896, at the home of his mother, Mrs. A. Wise. His death was the result of a sad accident which occurred the evening before. A switching engine ran over him, mangling him fearfully. He was conscious until a short time before his decease, readily recognizing his friends and conversing with them cheerfully. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church last Sunday, and were conducted by Rev. John H. Aughey, who preached from Mark: vii, 37; "He hath done all things well." The attendance at the church was large and the funeral procession to the cemetery was of great length. He leaves a mother, brother and two sisters to mourn his loss.

A committee of three, consisting of Rev. John H. Aughey, Miss Jennie Brown and Merrill's Sabbath-school teacher, Mrs. W.M. Hatfield, was appointed to prepare appropriate resolutions, which are as follows:

Resolved, That we bow with humble submission to the will of Him whose inscrutable decree has removed from our school one whose kind disposition and commendable deportment had endeared him to all - teachers, officers and scholars.

Resolved, That we learn from this sudden summons of this, our beloved scholar, to another state of existence that we, too, are mortal, and should keep our lamps trimmed and burning, for we know not the hour when the bridegroom cometh.

Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to the mother, sisters and brother of the deceased, and assure that we will pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit to sanctify this bereavement to them and that he will bestow upon them the consolations He alone can give.

John H. Aughey,
Mr. W.M. Hatfield,
Miss Jennie Brown.

Merrill was born in Mendon, Id., (could be Ia. or Ill., very pale), October 18, 1883, and at the time of his decease his age was thirteen years and thirteen days.

"A light is from the household gone,
A voice we loved in stilled,
A chair is vacant at the hearth
That never can be filled.
We call him dead, but O! we know
He dwells where living waters flow."

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