Schwartz, Katherine M. (1919-1940)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Apr 3 p. 1

Birth date: 1919

text of obituary:

Two Lives Taken In Tragic Accident Near Berne, Indiana

BROTHER AND SISTER KILLED ALMOST INSTANTLY WHEN BUGGY IS STRUCK BY AUTO

A tragic accident in which Jacob M. Schwartz, 16, and his sister, 21, were killed almost instantly near Berne, Ind., when the buggy in which they were riding was struck by an automobile, was reported in the Berne Witness of March 25.

Excerpts of the detailed report of the tragedy as given in The Witness are as follows.

The young Amish, Jacob M. Schwartz, 21, of northeast of town were killed almost instantly at 7:30 o'clock last evening when an Amish rig in which they were riding was struck by an automobile on U. S. road 27 three and three-fourth miles north of town. Their cousin, Daniel M. Schwartz, and the boy friend of Miss Schwartz, at the reins, escaped with minor injuries.

Harry Roth, 19, of north of town and a son of the late Jacob Roth, whose wrecked auto was in the ditch near the shattered buggy, was being held for investigation last night and today. Authorities, including Sheriff Ed Miller, state policeman Russell Prior and Coroner Jerome J. Yager, quoted the young man as saying that another driver who did not stop, hit the buggy and that he himself wrecked his own auto to keep from striking the demolished conveyance. The sheriff said the buggy had lights. A blinding snow storm was attributed as a contributing cause.

Katherine, whose body was found under the vehicle, sustained a broken neck and a fracture of the skull at the base of the brain.

Jacob, her brother, who was found nearby, had a fractured skull and crushed chest. Both were dead when the Yager ambulance reached the scene a short time after the accident happened.

Daniel, 23, son of John L. Schwartz, of Nappanee, Indiana, and an employe of his uncle David L. Schwartz, in the blacksmith shop north of town, escaped in some inexplainable manner. He is a grandson of Bishop and Mrs. Joseph A. Schwartz. He was thrown clear of the rig and under the horse.

The fatal accident took place just a little south of the David L. Schwarz home and soon attracted a large number of persons.