1936 — Jan 24, Train hits car at crossing, all 11 members of family killed, Grabill, IN– 11

–11  Associated Press. “Family of 11 Killed By Train,” Portsmouth Times, OH, 1-25-1936, p. 1.

–11  Assoc. Press. “Last of Family is Dead After Crash.” Logansport Press, IN, 1-26-1936, p. 1.

 

Narrative Information

 

AP: “Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 25 — Circumstances surrounding a train-automobile crash at Gabrill [Grabill], Ind., snuffed out the lives of all members of a family of 11 came before the close scrutiny today of Coroner Walter E. Kruse.

 

“A mass funeral will be held in a little mission here Tuesday for the dead: Marion McBride, 43, Grabill farmer and relief worker; his 41-year-old wife, Susan; and their children, Marion Jr., 12; Clara, 14; Phyllis, 4; Mary, 10; Arthur, 8; Virginia, 6; Robert, 3, and Richard and Ramona, 15-month-old twins.

 

“Coroner Kruse, who will hold a formal inquest Tuesday, had three theories on which to work today:

 

That the McBride automobile stalled at a point where the train could not be seen.

 

That Mrs. McBride suddenly became ill [went into labor] and her husband stopped the car to aid her.

 

That abject poverty[1] had led the family to suicide.

 

“The Detroit-bound train crushed the 8-year-old McBride automobile into bits yesterday and carried part of the wreckage containing Phyllis, 1,000 feet down the tracks.[2] A still-born baby of Mrs. McBride was found 150 feet from the mother’s body.” (Associated Press. “Family of 11 Killed By Train,” Portsmouth Times, OH, 1-25-1936, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Family of 11 Killed By Train,” Portsmouth Times, OH, 1-25-1936, p. 1. Accessed 9-8-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-times-jan-25-1936-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Last of Family is Dead After Crash.” Logansport Press, IN, 1-26-1936, p. 1. Accessed 9-8-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-press-jan-26-1936-p-1/

 

 

[1] Family lived in a “humble one-room house.” (Associated Press. “Last of Family is Dead After Crash.” Logansport Press, IN, 1-26-1936, p. 1.)

[2] Phyllis was not killed immediately but “badly mangled” and “lingered until this morning [Jan 25] when death ended her suffering.” (Assoc. Press. “Last of Family is Dead After Crash.” Logansport Press, IN, 1-26-1936, p. 1.)