Charles E. Bressie

Charles E. Bressie Killed
Last Thursday afternoon at 2:45 o'clock the Village of Roberts was shocked by the sad news that Charles E. Bressie had been instantly killed by train No. 20 North bound due here at 2:22, but running 20 minutes late.
Mrs. Bressie had just returned from a visit to North Dakota. During her absence Mr. Bressie had purchased a new Dodge touring car and that afternoon they went out to try it out. The intended to go to Piper City but the muddy roads changed their plans and they returned to Roberts via the west road. Their grandson Howard Minch was with them. They came down Melvin street and turned at Maple street just as the fast train was pulling in. It was impossible to see down the track until the turn and just as the front wheels of the auto were between the rails the auto stopped. The engine was "killed" probably by the steep incline in the road just at the turn.
Mrs. Bressie asked him if he could start the engine. He was leaning over handling some of the levers and did not answer. She got out of the car with the boy and got off the track before the train reached them. Mr. Bressie was still in the seat when hit. His body was thrown through the air striking the ground 170 feet north of the place where hit and 46 feet west of the west rail. The auto was literally wrecked. Two wheels were still in good condition but hardly another piece. The main body of the auto first struck the ground 38 feet from the crossing at the north of the track and bounded finally landing 78 feet north of the crossing. Pieces of the auto and of Mr. Bressie's clothing were scattered for 300 feet to the north and west of the track, nothing was dragged, all thrown out clear from the track.
Many have wondered why Mr. Bressie did not get out of the car. This is hardly to be wondered at. The first impulse to a person not driving would be to get out but to a driver would be to start the car and save them all not himself alone. The car was new to him and worked just the opposite of the one to which he was used to using. Therefore he failed to start it. After the others were out and the car had failed to start it was too late to get out from behind the driving wheel. In an emergency the mind of a man selects a course of action and follows that course. The course of action seldom changes in the emergency. His first selection was to start the car and he had no time to change his mind. To the onlooker a few seconds of the time seems like hours but to the one who is doing things time passes quickly. The evidence at the inquest showed that two other autos were approaching the track. One from the north on Main street stopped before crossing. The other from the west on Green Street passed over the track just as Mr. Bressie came to it on Maple street. The agent Mr. Pendergast ran out to warn them and saw the whole accident. There are no bells on the Maple street crossing but the bells on the Main street crossing were ringing before Mr. Bressie's car came around the corner according to the evidence. These bells are supposed to start ringing when the train is 1683 ft (102 rods) from the Maple street crossing. If the train was making regular time according to time table this would occupy 27 seconds. The train was probably going faster at first because it was late but slowed down after brakes were set before the crash, but was still going rapidly as proven by its throwing a Dodge touring car, 78 feet through the air and a man of his weight 170 feet. Bela Foster was working in his garden and says that when the train stopped the engine was at the Roberts & Gullett coal house which is 100 rods beyond the Maple street crossing. Let the doughter see if he can attempt to start his car and then get out of it before the train reaches the Maple street crossing, when he is safely off the track and no bother.
Mrs. C. W. Cook, Miss Maggie Knilands and several others saw the accident.


Obituary
Charles E. Bressie, son of Lewis E. and Sarah Ann (Supplee)Bressie was born at Salem, Indiana, February 25, 1870 and died in Roberts, Illinois, Thursday, August 12, 1920, aged 50 years, 5 months and 17 days. When about two years of age he came with his parents to Loda, Illinois and two years later to Roberts where he grew to manhood. On the 21st day of September 1890 at Roberts he married Miss Jenette Hawthorne who survives him. To this union were born five daughters all of whom are living. They are Mrs. Clyde Samuels of Clinton, Mrs. Harry Minch of Robert, Mrs. Harvey Kenward of Page, North Dakota, Miss Lessie at home and Miss Edith of Chicago. He also leaves his father Lewis E. of Roberts and one brother Albert who lives in Bloomington and is employed as an engineer by the Alton Railway. He leaves three grandchildren and numerous other relatives and a host of friends, who join the family in sorrow. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bressie lived at Clinton, Illinois, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Chicago, Bloomington and Roberts.
When a young man Mr. Bressie entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railway Company as fireman and later as a locomotive engineer and held high rank in that work. After several years and some narrow escapes from serious accidents he decided to quit the work and enter an occupation in which he would not always be in fear that he might cause the death of another. He came back to Roberts and worked his father's farm which he afterwards purchased. About five years ago he retired from the farm and moved to town where he still resided at the time of his death, which fate decreed was to be caused by a locomotive driven by the same engineer whom he worked under when he began as fireman, Mr. Burt, who is said to be one of the most reliable engineers on the road.
The deceased served as commissioner of highways for the past two years which office he held at the time of his death. H was also member of the Village Board for several years some of which time was while he was still on the farm, as his farm is located within the corporation. He was a very efficient officer always doing his full duty as he saw it. He may have made mistakes as all of us do but he did not neglect to attend to what was to be done. He was kind to his family and was one of the most obliging of neighbors. He was one of those who made friends easily and did not forget a favor. As a token of remembrance the friends raised $88.00 which was used to purchase a beautiful floral blanket for the funeral service. This was only a part of the floral designs there however.
The funeral service was held at the house Sunday afternoon August 15, at 2:00 o'clock, Rev. D. G. DuBois officiating. The body was laid to rest in Lyman Cemetery. The service at the cemetery was in charge of the Melvin Lodge. A.F.A.M. assisted by brother masons from Piper City, Rantoul and many other places. About eighty members of the order were in line. Among those from a distance who attended the funeral beside the Masonic Fraternity were, John Neil and daughter of Chicago, Hugh Hawthorne and Kirker, and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ristoe of Piper City, Miss Pearl Woolsoncroft of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Smedley and son Frank and Dr. and Mrs. Diller of Rantoul, Mrs. Fred Overmeyer of Clinton, Miss Tessie Moore of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Froegish of Chatsworth, Mrs. William Scott of Gilman and a number of others.

--Roberts Herald. 18 August 1920.

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