# 1 - - Published in The Tribune, Wednesday, June 17, 1914

MRS. KENNETH THOMPSON

The sad news of the death of Mrs. Kenneth Thompson reached Blair last Thursday morning. Mrs. Thompson was killed when a U. P. train struck the auto in which she was riding with a party of friends at the railroad crossing near Millard, Nebr., the three other occupants of the auto also meeting death at the same time. She was the wife of Kenneth Thompson, of the Bee Hive, and they had been married but a year, and she had been working in a millinery store in Omaha since their marriage, but intended to come to Blair the latter part of this month and occupy the O. C. Thompson residence when Mr. and Mrs. Thompson go to Grand Island. The remains were brought to Blair Sunday morning and laid to rest in the Blair cemetery, the funeral service being conducted by Rev. Romberg. The Tribune joins the entire community in extending to Mr. Thompson their deepest sympathy in his sad bereavement.

# 2 - - from Blair Democrat, June 18, 1914

MERCHANT’S WIFE KILLED

Mrs. Kenneth Thompson, who has been making her home in Omaha while her husband has been conducting the Bee Hive store for his father at this place, was killed early last Thursday morning in an auto accident at the Sarpy crossing in Douglas county while out riding with a chauffeur and a lady and gentleman friend, the car they were riding in being struck by a fast train on the Union Pacific road.

Mrs. Thompson was employed in one of the large department stores in Omaha, and was about to give up her position down there to join her husband at this place, and expected to occupy the home left vacant by the removal of the O. T. Thompson to Grand Island.

The three other parties in the auto besides Mrs. Thompson also lost their lives, two of them, Oscar King and Miss Vivian Ash, being particular friends of Mrs. Thompson and were to have been married the 15th of July, after a courtship which began when they were children. The chauffeur, Carl Bair, was a friend of the trio and was in the employ of an Omaha contractor.

Those killed in the accident had been riding in the country toward Millard. They were on their way back to Omaha when they stopped at the Sarpy crossing where a freight train was waiting to let No. 13, the passenger train, pass. When the passenger train passed the automobile was started through the freight train.

The first passenger was No. 10, and was going in the opposite direction. Just as the automobile was on the track, after passing the freight, the engine of No. 13 rushed upon them.

There was a crash, almost drowned by the roar of the train, and the splintered automobile was hurled up in front of the engine. Then part of the machine was thrown off, alighting 100 feet west of the crossing. Mrs. Thompson was thrown off along with the wreck, falling and rolling into a gully a few feet further and near the roadway. She was alive when people reached her a few minutes later, but died on the way to a hospital.

The rest of the machine was strewn along the track for over 4_?__ yards west of the crossing - - the distance required to bring the train to a standstill. The bodies of the other three people were carried on the pilot of the engine until it stopped. All three were dead when removed from the wreckage on the pilot.

The remains of Mrs. Thompson were brought to Blair Sunday morning and laid to rest in the cemetery east of town, services having been held in Omaha, although short services were held at the cemetery here. The many friends of the bereaved husband extend their heartfelt sympathy in this hour of sorrow.

(Typed as printed in the newspaper. A smudged number in one spot.)

# 3 - - from The Pilot, June 17, 1914

Another sad auto accident occurred last Wednesday evening that affected Blair people, though the accident occurred at what is known as the Sarpy crossing, near Millard, a suburb of Omaha. It was about midnight and it had started to rain and the side curtains were up. One train had just passed and the driver, C. H. Bair, thought the track was clear. A passenger train running 60 miles an hour struck the car and smashed it into kindling wood, killing the driver and three other occupants, Mrs. Kenneth Thompson, Miss Vivian Ash and Oscar Krug. Mrs. Thompson was alive when picked up but died on the way to the hospital.

Kenneth has been manager of the Bee Hive for his father since Mr. Thompson bought out the Grand Island store, and his wife was working in the millinery department of the Burgess-Nash Co. They were planning to go to housekeeping in the Thompson house in a few weeks and a part of the furniture was being left here for them. Kenneth received word of the accident and went down on the morning train. The body was brought up Sunday morning and laid to rest in the Blair cemetery. The entire community extends heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved husband.

~~~Obituary courtesy of Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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