This community was greatly shocked Wednesday afternoon when word was passed around that John Krell, one of the highly respected old settlers of this section had been killed in the railroad yards here. The old gentleman was rather feeble and in going to and from his home just north of the old Goeres and Gilbertz warehouse he was in the habit of crawling under any cars that hapened [sic] to be standing there when he wanted to cross the car tracks and on Wednesday afternoon he had been down town and was returning home at about 4:15. The way freight was standing on the side track and the crew did not see the old gentleman get under the train and the train started before he could get though in under the cars. One of his legs got caught in the brake beam and he was dragged about three car lengths before the train was brought to a stop. Carl Endter was walking on the track at the time of the mishap and saw the old gentleman go under the cars and called to the engineer to stop but it was too late to save Mr. Krell. One of his arms was severed from the body and he was badly battered and lived but a few moments after being removed from under the wheels. Mr Krell was nearly ninety years old and was one of the first settlers in these parts. A suitable obituary will appear in the Wave next week.
Source: White Lake Wave
White Lake, Aurora Co. SD
Friday, September 17, 1920. Page 1
(K.SD.148)