Payette-Adams County ID Archives News.....Five Killed By Train Smashing Into Auto August 9, 1917
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Patty Theurer seymour784@yahoo.com December 22, 2005, 1:49 am

Payette Enterprise August 9, 1917
Payette Enterprise
Payette, Idaho
Thursday, August 9, 1917

FIVE KILLED BY TRAIN SMASHING INTO AUTO

Father, Mother, Two Brothers, Sister death, One Sister Still Lives and Doctors 
Have Hopes for Recovery.

Five in one family killed when O. S. L. train crashes into auto. 

One of the most fatal accidents that ever occurred in the history of Payette 
was that on Monday morning when the east bound Pony crashed into an auto 
carrying Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hahn and their four children, just beyond the cut 
about two miles north of Payette.  The Hahn family who live on a stock ranch 
near Council drove down to Payette last Friday to visit at the home of Mrs. 
Hahn’s mother, Mrs. A. Fifer, and sister, Mrs. A. Beckstead, and on Saturday 
Mr. Hahn and two sons Frank and Joe drove to Boise where Frank was examined for 
service in the army, returning to Payette in the evening, and on Monday morning 
the family after eating breakfast with Mrs. Fifer, started for their home near 
Council, and arriving at the crossing about two miles from Payette was struck 
by the Pony going east.  Just how the accident occurred will perhaps never be 
known, but is thot that through excitement some way, the engine was of the car 
was killed on the track.  It was struck square in the center and carried a 
distance of about one hundred and fifty feet, totally demolishing the car, and 
killing instantly Mr. Hahn and son Frank, who was driving the care, the train 
was stopped after passing the crossing about three hundred and fifty feet.  It 
was a heart rendering sight that met the eyes of the train crew and 
passengers.  The dead and mangled were strewn along the west side of the track 
for two hundred feet, Joe the younger son, was pinned under the fragments of 
the auto.  The dead and wounded were put on the train and brought to Payette, 
where every care possible was given to the wounded, at the Woodward building, 
by Doctors Woodward & Woodward and others who rendered assistance.  Mrs. Hahn 
and the eldest daughter Elsie, passed away shortly after being brought to 
town.  Joe, the younger son died shortly after noon.  Alice age 13, is still 
living her injuries are body bruised and several cuts on the head but no bones 
are broken.  Dr. Stewart of Boise, was called in consultation with Drs. 
Woodward & Woodward, and it is thought she will recover.  The six people in 
this car were the entire family living at home.  Two older sons Harry Hahn and 
William Hahn, are married and both live near Council, who were notified and 
arrived Monday evening.  A sister of Mrs. Hahn who lives in Butte, Montana, 
arrived Tuesday.

Mr. Hahn, Sr., was 60 years of age, his wife, Mrs. Alice Hahn, 45; Frank Hahn, 
Jr., 25; Joe Hahn, 20; Elsie 17.

The five white caskets containing the bodies of the unfortunate victims were 
taken to the Methodist church at one o’clock Wednesday afternoon where the 
funeral services were conducted by Rev. G. W. Barnes at two o’clock.  After the 
reading of a chapter from the Bible and prayer, two of the bodies were taken to 
the cemetery, one hearse returning for the third, while the funeral sermon was 
being preached over the remains of the father and mother.  After which a large 
procession of sorrowing friends followed to the last resting place of what was 
but a few days ago five out of six of a happy family, while little Alice age 
13, the only survivor of this unfortunate family lay semi-conscious yet to 
learn the fate that has befallen the rest of the family, and that if she is 
spared to live, must take up the battles of life without the guiding hand of a 
father or the tender care of a mother.  She will have the guard and protection 
of two stalwart brothers and other relatives, but no one can take the place of 
mother.  Words can not express our heartfelt sympathy for this child in her 
tender years and other relatives who will mourn the loss of their dear ones who 
were dashed into eternity without a moments notice.  

Payette Enterprise
Payette, Idaho
Thursday, August 9, 1917

CORONER HOLDS INQUEST

Coroner McDonald held an inquest Monday and Tuesday to determine the cause of 
the death of five members of the Hahn family which occurred last Monday morning 
at the road crossing two miles north of Payette.  The jurors summoned were 
Calvin Keller, Geo. Rezac, Dr. R. I. Hurd, O. A. Walling, J. H. Howard, and 
Will Wells.  The verdict rendered was to the effect that death was caused by an 
unavoidable accident and the blame placed on no one.  


Additional Comments:
Burials were made at Riverside cemetery in Payette.  

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