Bio: Kampine, Aug. (Fatal train accident - 1911)

Contact: Ann Stevens

Email:  sdann88@yahoo.com

Surnames: Kampine,Clune, Chapman

----Source:  Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.)  Sept 7, 1911

Kampine, Aug. (Fatal train accident - Sept 1, 1911)

Friday noon, in driving across the railroad track at the kilns west of Chili, Aug. Kampine and 9-year-old son were struck by the passenger train which arrives here at 11:28.  The son was instantly killed and the elder Kampine badly injured.  There is a deep cut in the railroad crossing and in driving across the track, more than ordinary care must be exercised to guard against approaching trains.  Engineer Jack Clune stated the first intimation he had of the approaching fatality was when he rounded the curve and saw the horse just entering upon the track.  He clutched the emergency brake with one hand and blew the whistle with the other, but too late.  The engine struck the horse at its hind quarters, tearing the buggy lose and throwing the horse to one side of the track and the occupants of the buggy to the other.  Clune states that he saw the little boy thrown high in the air, and the opinion of the physicians point to the lad having his neck broken when he struck upon his head.  There were no marks upon the boy’s  body other than a bruise on the side of his head.  The elder Kampine was severely cut about the head, and may have sustained internal injuries which have not as yet developed.

The body of the little victim was taken at once to his home which is but a short distance away from the scene of the accident.  The elder Kampine was brought to Neillsville on the train and his injuries attended to, later being taken home.

Saturday an inquest was held before Justice Chapman in this city and the train crew were here for examination.  The inquest brought out the story of the accident substantially as given above.

Mr. Kampine is one of the prosperous and influential farmers of the Chili neighborhood and his little son was a bright and intelligent little fellow.  Engineer Clune especially was sorrowed by the accident, for in addition to feeling keenly his part in the death of the little boy, he states that in 42 years of railroading, this was the first time he had been in an accident which terminated fatally.