Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: William SCHUPPERT ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, June 2005 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Northwestern October 27, 1906 p. 3 Dies After Falling William Schuppert Residing on Evans Street Tumbles From Moving Car with Fatal Results William Schuppert, a man advanced in years and a plasterer by trade, slipped or stepped from an inter-urban car on the Neenah line of the Winnebago Traction company Friday evening on Main street near North Park avenue, and fell to the pavement with such force us to result in fatal injuries. He died at midnight at his home, 71 Evans street. Mr. Schuppert was on the car due in this city at six o'clock. He had been employed at his trade on the county hospital job and was on his way home. The car was in charge of Motorman John Fitzgerald and Conductor Eugene Clark. As the car approached the corner of Main street and North Park avenue. Mr. Schuppert left his seat near the front end and started toward the rear door with his dinner pail. Conductor Clark, who was standing near the rear door, asked him if he was going to get off at North Park avenue as usual, and he replied in the affirmative. The conductor therefore pulled the bell rope. Mr. Schuppert walked to the rear platform and took hold of the handrail at the door. In some way he lost his grip, either imagining that the car had reached the corner or slipping from the step. He fell violently to the hard asphalt pavement, his head striking with great force, and he rolled to one side of the track. He was picked up by the conductor and passengers and was taken to the store of Adam Lichtenberger at the corner of North Park avenue and Main street, and thence was removed to his home in the city ambulance. Mr. Schuppert was rendered unconscious by the fall and did not recover his senses until an hour later. He received medical attention and every effort was made to save his life, but he had suffered internal injuries which the physician was unable to locate. On his head, where he struck with greatest force, there was a large lump, the temple being raised to great size. However, it is believed that death did not result from concussion of the brain, as the patient's mind was perfectly clear for a part of the evening. It is thought that some of the internal organs were displaced by the shock. Conductor Clark, when interviewed this morning, gave the following story of the accident: "I did not see Mr. Schuppert fall. When he went to the back platform we had just left the switch between North Park avenue and Irving street, and I had pulled the bell rope for his corner as usual. I was standing with my back in the platform and did not notice that he was preparing to get off. Before we reached the corner I heard his dinner pail strike the pavement, and looking back, I saw him rolling in the street. I immediately pulled the bell rope three times and stopped the car on the North Park crossing. We went back and examined him, finding that he had received a large wound on the head and that he must have been severely bruised. He was unconscious, but the pulse was beating faintly. We carried him to the corner store and called the ambulance. The car was running at a pretty full rate of speed at the time, and the fall must have been hard, although we were slowing down for the stop. Mr. Schuppert was not as active as in his younger years, and I believe that he must have slipped from the step. I do not believe that he knew just what he was dining." Deceased is survived by the widow, Mrs. Johanna Schuppert, and five children, Martha E. William Jr., Frank, Paul and Rose, all making their home at 71 Evans street. At the house none of them were able to tell how the accident occurred. Mr. Schuppert not having made a statement before his death. He was bout fifty-four years old. Dr. M. E. Corbett, the Traction company physician, attended the injured man immediately after he was taken in his home, and at that time Mr. Schuppert had recovered consciousness and was able to walk upstairs and get to bed with very little assistance. At 8:30 o'clock the doctor found him sleeping peacefully, to all appearances, and death came while he slept. It was impossible to determine the exact cause of death except by a post-mortem examination. According to the reports made by the conductor and motorman of the car to The Traction's company office and also statements made by passengers, the accident was not in any way due to the negligence of the company's employees and was clearly due to the action of Mr. Schuppert himself. It is learned that a company in which Mr. Schuppert carried life insurance will insist upon a post-mortem examination being held in order to determine the exact cause of the fatality.