Ionia-Mecosta County MI Archives Obituaries.....Blesche (Blesch), William 1901
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net June 15, 2011, 6:25 pm

The Ionia Daily Standard, Saturday, January 12, 1901

A bad head-on collision, at Plymouth last night, in which two engineers and a 
fireman were killed, was the startling news that freighten the air with horror 
throughout Ionia, this morning.

The Dead:  

William Blesch of Ionia, engineer of freight engine No. 153
Elliott E. Moore of Saginaw, engineer of passenger train No. 166
John Kennedy of Saginaw, fireman of passenger train No. 106

The Injured:

Ed. B. Moon of Brighton, fireman on freight engine No. 168, shoulder dislocated
Wm. J. Warner of Detroit, express messenger, head bruised and perhaps 
internally injured.
Conductor Packard of the passenger train
Mail Clerk Bogardus of the passenger train
Baggageman Conde of the passenger train

The scene of the accident is on the Saginaw division.  Immediately upon 
receipt of the news, Supt. Trump had a special train, with emergency supplies, 
sent to Plymouth.  Engineer Moore and Fireman Kennedy were killed instantly.  
Blesch was found alive but frightfully injured about the trunk.  He was taken 
to St. Mary’s hospital, Detroit, where he expired about 10 minutes after 
arrival.  Moon, though injured, accompanied his engineer to the hospital.

Elliott F. Moore, the engineer killed, has been on the Flint & Pere Marquette 
for a quarter of a century.  For two years he was in the state railroad 
commissioner’s office as mechanical engineer, and until recently was employed 
in appraising mechanical property of railroads of state for tax purposes under 
Prof. Cooley.  He was about 55 years old and leaves a widow and daughter 
living at 711 Carroll street, Saginaw.  John C. Kennedy, the fireman killed, 
was a young man, living with his mother at 251 Dwight street, Saginaw.

Blesch was a young man of only 27 years.  He resided on East Front street 
(singularly, next door to the late home of Frank Frost, an engineer who met 
quite a similar death).  He leaves a wife, not any too well provided for.  He 
carried a policy for $500 in the B. of L.F., which run to his mother, and two 
months ago belonged to Grand Rapids council of Foresters for $1000, but talked 
of canceling this policy.  It is feared he did this.  He was a new engineer, 
being promoted only within a month, though he took the examination and 
has “run” some since last fall.  The stricken wife was advised of the accident 
soon after it occurred, and her actions were pitiful, awaiting the arrival of 
this morning, when she could take the first train to Detroit.  She was 
accompanied by Engineer Fred Williams of this city, whose miraculous escape 
from death in a somewhat similar accident is of only recent date.

The remains of William Blesch will arrive here at 9:20 this evening, and will 
be met by a committee of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.

Subsequent Publication:  Monday, January 14, 1901

Funeral services for William Blesche were conducted at the M.E. church on 
Sunday afternoon, and were largely attended, especially by railroad men and 
their families.  Accidental death is always an occasion for deep sorrow, but 
the peculiarly unfortunate character of the untimely death of the young 
engineer, his age, his promise of a bright an successful future, his standing 
with his fellows, etc., made this occasion one of more than ordinary mourning.

Rev. W.H.B. Urch took his text from the 90th Psalm, v.9: “We spend our years 
as a tale that is told.” a theme which gave ample inspiration for a 
significant sermon to the many railroad men present, and of consolation to the 
bereaved wife and parents.  The singing was by the Rosary quartette, Mrs. 
Eugene Smith, Mrs. S. G. Allured and the Misses Oliver; Mr. Eugene Smith, 
organist.

The bearers were selected from the members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Fireman: Richard Dobbins, Chas. T. Chambers, Arthur Walton, Chas. Church, John 
Bays, Warren Smith.  The broken wheel floral piece sent by the brotherhood was 
a handsome and significant remembrance.

After the service at the church, Director Bradley returned the body to the 
late home of deceased, whence it was taken to Barryton, Mecosta county, this 
morning, for interment.  The funeral at Barryton, will be on Tuesday 
afternoon, when further services will be conducted at the church there.

In the funeral party accompanying the bereaved wife and the body to Barryton, 
were the bearers above named, Mr. George Blesch, of Brenton, father of 
deceased, Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Beerman, and Jess Beerman, of Barryton, father, 
mother and brother of the stricken wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Malmstone of 
Barryton, intimate family friends.



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