Accidents

Run Over by Wagon
Ralph Raum, who runs the Raum’s ferry about four miles below the city was suddenly killed Sunday evening about nine o’clock by being run over by a wagon loaded with grain. Mr. Raum accompanied the Attorney Aaron Bessie of this city as returning from a trip to Charlie Howett’s place where they got a load of oats. They were driving a four horse team and two of the horses were broncos. As they started down the steep hill from the upland to the flat upon which the Raum residence was built, one of the broncos started rearing and plunging. Mr. Raum was driving and Mr. Bessie was on the back of the load. When the horses started plunging, Mr. Bessie saw Mr. Raum straighten up, as he thought to get a better grip on the lines. As he did so the horses jumped and Mr. Raum was thrown forward between them. One of the wagon wheels passed over his head dislocating his neck and smashing the bones of his face. Death must have been instantaneous and Mr. Raum probably never knew what happened.

After he saw Raum fall, Mr. Bessie got off the load and called to him. Getting no answer be went back and found After he saw Raum fall, Mr. Bessie got off the load and called to him. Getting no answer be went back and found him lying in the road. He then went to the house and got several of the men to come and get Raum and the horses. The four horses had run a short distance down the hill but two of them had fallen down and were all tangled up in the harness.

Monday Coroner Thomas was summoned and went to the Raum home to prepare the remains for burial. They were brought to the city Tuesday. The funeral will be held this afternoon in the court house and the Eagles will be in charge, Ralph Raum was married and leaves a wife to mourn his sudden death. Williston Graphic Thursday November 15, 1906

Killed by Work Train
The Community was greatly shocked Monday evening when it became known that James S. Costello had been killed at Mondak by a work train. The word reached the city about seven o’clock Monday evening and everyone in the city were talking of the accident. Mr. Costello, in company with a man by the name of George Wilson, drove in to Mondak Monday with a load of grain About five thirty they started for home and had to cross the railroad track. As they approached the track the work train came along. Mr. Costello was driving and according to those who were near, he tried to turn the horses but they jumped forward and landed the wagon on the track. The wagon was cut in two pieces. Mr. Costello was struck on the head and a large L shaped gash was made in the forehead. Wilson had his left foot cut off just above the top of his shoe. Miss M. Allen, who was coming to the city Monday evening was near the scene of the accident and someone called to her that a man had been run over by the train. She, being a trained nurse, naturally hurried to the scene. She heard someone groaning and soon discovered Mr. Wilson. He was carried to a rig and then Miss Allen discovered his foot was cut off. She took a lantern and started to look for the missing member when she came upon the body of Mr. Costello. She called for help and he was soon taken uptown. He was alive when found but did not regain consciousness and died about an hour after the accident. The men were struck by the engine of a work train which was backing up at the time. It was running pretty fast and, being without a light, the men in the wagon probably never saw the train until it was upon them. The accident occurred about five thirty and it was getting rather dark by that time. The only marks upon the two men where those mentioned. Mr. Costello being struck on the head and Wilson having his foot cut off. Mr. Costello was found only about three foot from where the wagon was struck but Wilson had been thrown or dragged about twenty-five feet.

Mr. Costello was one of the oldest and best known settlers in this part of the country and until a short time ago he lived in this city. He leaves a wife four children and a brother and sister to mourn his untimely death. He was forty years of age and was born in Fairbault, Minnesota. He moved from there to Brainerd, Minn., and from Brainerd to Bismarck in the early days. He came up the river from Bismarck when this section of the country was new and located in Montana, in the Yellowstone valley where he had a large horse ranch. He came to Williston about the time the Great Northern went through. He was elected sheriff of this county for six years and during that time did work for this section of the country in ridding it of a number of horse thieves and rustlers. Williston Graphic Thursday November 15, 1906

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