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Wiens, Johann P. (1876-1928)
Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1928 Mar 15 p. 7
Birth date: 1876
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1928 Feb 22 p. 1
John P. Wiens, Santa Fe Employee, Instantly Killed by Fast Mail Train.
The second very tragic accident to happen here within a relatively brief time occurred last Thursday afternoon, when John P. Wiens, truck driver for the Santa Fe, was instantly k8lled as his truck collided with the Santa Fe fast mail train in the company's freight yards, west of Newton. Oliver Palmer, also an employee of the Santa Fe who was with Wiens at the time of the accident, escaped by leaping from the cab. The ice plant, near where the accident occurred, is said to have prevented Mr. Wiens from seeing the train in time to avoid the crash.
The two men were returning to Newton after taking a load of material to the reclamation plant of the company's store department, and because of some delay caused by muddy road were anxious to return to Newton as soon as possible and seemingly for this reason failed to stop before the tracks to see whether a train was approaching, as had been Mr. Wiens' custom. The train was about one-hundred and fifty feet from the crossing as the men noticed it, too late to avoid the crash. Mr. Palmer jumped from the truck, his foot striking the north rail, only a few yards from the train. The inertia of his leap however threw him some distance from the truck. The engine struck the truck at the rear, causing it to turn over several times until it finally came to a standstill bout thirty feet away. Mr. Wines had been thrown clear of the truck, and was dead when Mr. Palmer reached him. His neck had been broken, his skull fractured, and even his shoes had been torn from his feet in the crash. The truck was completely demolished.
Mr. Wiens was known as a very faithful, conscientious man, and was highly valued by his employers. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Ted Reimer, living south of Newton, and Mrs. Andrew Kosminski, Newton city, and two sons, John and Sam, who are still at home.
Funeral services, held at the First Mennonite church Monday afternoon, were largely attended and friends showed their sympathy to the bereaved by bedecking the casket with a profusion of flowers. rev. J. E. Entz, of Newton, and Rev. Dyck, of Elbing, had charge of the services. Interment was made in the Greenwood cemetery east of Newton.
