The average life expectancy in 1923-24 was around 57 years. But the elevated risk wasn't just from whooping cough, measles and influenza. Americans already loved their cars and trucks, and seatbelts were far in the future.
Artena recounts a tragic accident and funeral in her succinct, yet telling manner:
"Elder Richards sure did preach a wonderful sermon and there was such a large crowd. The singing was good. The deceased—Brother Tangeman—had been a member of our church for three months. Mr. Tangeman was struck by an engine with a carload of rock."—Artena Arising: Diary of a Lady Missionary in Nebraska
As I am overly fond of repeating, a "Publisher Extra" account at Newspapers.com account will buy you the keys to the kingdom. Here is a clipping of the breaking news. The details of Mr. Tangeman's accident are horrible. But isn't it a little bit thrilling to read an official news account of someone Artena knew?
Thanks to the Lincoln Journal Star we learn that Tangeman's accident was—quite literally—a train wreck. This is the very definition of an unexpected tragedy, and one the LDS ward members would have rallied together against. Note how the truck chassis and load of gravel were separated and left as a pile of "twisted wreckage". Gory details for most any pedestrian, driver, streetcar and train traveler in 1920. Yet how odd it seems to us that it was also newsworthy to note that the injured was transported to hospital in a Castle, Roper & Matthews' ambulance. (Were competitive ambulance companies a thing, or was it volunteer?)
The following day, the Journal Star reported Brother Tangeman to be in critical condition after an operation (Headline: "Injured Man No Better"). By the third, we are left only with the preliminary details of his funeral, which was to be held Wadlow's Mortuary.
Ahhh...so it was at Wadlow's—which had only recently opened—where Artena heard Elder Richards preach and a large crowd gathered (and no doubt whispered details of the accident). Tangeman's funeral may have been Artena's first visit to Wadlow's, but it would prove to be only the first, for additional funerals were certain follow.
....Please see below for a bit of more light-hearted reading....
On a Lighter Note...
Below the Journal Star's "Injured Man No Better" notice is the following, extremely non-politically correct piece of reportage:
FAT MEN HOLD CONTEST
"VIENNA. (By mail.)—Sixty-four men weighing more than any other sixty-four men ever assembled in one group—met here to determine who is who in the land of averdupois [sic]. One by one these heavy weights submitted themselves to the weighing scales and elongated tapemeasure [sic]. The winner, Fred Brusch, was officially credited with a waist measure of 2 meters, 2 centimeters and 5 millimeters." (Source: Lincoln Journal Star, 10 Aug 1923)
For the Google-inept, avoirdupois = weighty. Mr. Brusch's waist measurement = 79 3/4 inches. Rounded, of course.
Love = Newspapers.com
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