Walter Torrison Killed by Train at City Crossing
Supervisor Candidate Was Driving; Brother Sustains Scratches
Walter E. (Elmer) Torrison, 69, of 416 N. Seventh St., was killed almost
instantly Saturday afternoon, when his car was struck by a Diesel switch engine
on Calumet Avenue. A brother, Milton Torrison, 59, of 1010 Dewey St., escaped
with only a slight scratch. The dead man was the first traffic fatality in
Manitowoc since July, 1951. He had retired as foreman of the Manitowoc electric
utility in 1951, and was a candidate for supervisor of the Fourth ward in the
March, 1953, primary.
Died of Skull Fracture
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc, County Coroner, said Mr. Torrison died of a
skull fracture, received when his car, going west on Calumet, was struck in the
left side by the engine. He said there would be no inquest.
Engineer Charles Orgeman, 60, of Antigo, told police that his diesel powered
engine had just been serviced at the round house, and he was heading for the
station to pull the 5:40 p.m. train to Marshfield.
Mr. Orgeman said the engine going north, had stopped while the pilot changed the
switch, and then started up again at about 10 miles an hour.The engineer and his
fireman, Frank Hurth, 59, of Antigo, said they saw the Torrison car coming
toward the intersection as the engine approached, but thought the auto was going
to stop, since the wig-wag signals were working.
Doors Sheared Off
They said the driver hesitated, then kept going across the intersection.The
train caught the car and sheared off both left doors, sending the sedan spinning
around on Calumet Avenue west of the tracks.
(snip)
Sgt. Melvin Reinhardt and Patrolmen Anton Glysch and Marvin Rein said that as
they drove to the scene, west on Calumet Avenue, the setting sun had set up a
blinding glare, and it was possible that the same thing had happened to Torrison
as he drove toward the intersection.
Funeral Wednesday
Funeral services for Mr. Torrison...
(Continued on Page 2) Accident (Continued from Page 1)
will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church. The Rev.
Roland Schwandt will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mr. Torrison was born in this city in 1883, attended city schools and in 1903
entered the employ of the private electric utility, then owned and headed by the
late John Schuette, Manitowoc banker. When the municipality acquired the plant
in 1914 he continued and when he retired in 1951, after 38 years with the
municipal plant was foreman and superintendent of construction.
Three weeks ago he filed papers to make the race for supervisor in the Fourth
ward. His name is on the printed ballots but may not be record in the official
canvass.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows, the Eagles, and the Brotherhood of the First
Lutheran Church.
In 1916 he married Miss Sophie Haberman. She survives with a son, James, of
Manitowoc; brother, Milton of Manitowoc, and two grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Urbanek and Schlei Funeral Home after Tuesday noon. The
casket will be moved to the church at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, March 2, 1953 pp. 1,2
Supervisor Candidate Was Driving; Brother Sustains Scratches
Walter E. (Elmer) Torrison, 69, of 416 N. Seventh St., was killed almost
instantly Saturday afternoon, when his car was struck by a Diesel switch engine
on Calumet Avenue. A brother, Milton Torrison, 59, of 1010 Dewey St., escaped
with only a slight scratch. The dead man was the first traffic fatality in
Manitowoc since July, 1951. He had retired as foreman of the Manitowoc electric
utility in 1951, and was a candidate for supervisor of the Fourth ward in the
March, 1953, primary.
Died of Skull Fracture
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc, County Coroner, said Mr. Torrison died of a
skull fracture, received when his car, going west on Calumet, was struck in the
left side by the engine. He said there would be no inquest.
Engineer Charles Orgeman, 60, of Antigo, told police that his diesel powered
engine had just been serviced at the round house, and he was heading for the
station to pull the 5:40 p.m. train to Marshfield.
Mr. Orgeman said the engine going north, had stopped while the pilot changed the
switch, and then started up again at about 10 miles an hour.The engineer and his
fireman, Frank Hurth, 59, of Antigo, said they saw the Torrison car coming
toward the intersection as the engine approached, but thought the auto was going
to stop, since the wig-wag signals were working.
Doors Sheared Off
They said the driver hesitated, then kept going across the intersection.The
train caught the car and sheared off both left doors, sending the sedan spinning
around on Calumet Avenue west of the tracks.
(snip)
Sgt. Melvin Reinhardt and Patrolmen Anton Glysch and Marvin Rein said that as
they drove to the scene, west on Calumet Avenue, the setting sun had set up a
blinding glare, and it was possible that the same thing had happened to Torrison
as he drove toward the intersection.
Funeral Wednesday
Funeral services for Mr. Torrison...
(Continued on Page 2) Accident (Continued from Page 1)
will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church. The Rev.
Roland Schwandt will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mr. Torrison was born in this city in 1883, attended city schools and in 1903
entered the employ of the private electric utility, then owned and headed by the
late John Schuette, Manitowoc banker. When the municipality acquired the plant
in 1914 he continued and when he retired in 1951, after 38 years with the
municipal plant was foreman and superintendent of construction.
Three weeks ago he filed papers to make the race for supervisor in the Fourth
ward. His name is on the printed ballots but may not be record in the official
canvass.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows, the Eagles, and the Brotherhood of the First
Lutheran Church.
In 1916 he married Miss Sophie Haberman. She survives with a son, James, of
Manitowoc; brother, Milton of Manitowoc, and two grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Urbanek and Schlei Funeral Home after Tuesday noon. The
casket will be moved to the church at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, March 2, 1953 pp. 1,2
Walter Torrison Killed by Train at City Crossing
Supervisor Candidate Was Driving; Brother Sustains Scratches
Walter E. (Elmer) Torrison, 69, of 416 N. Seventh St., was killed almost
instantly Saturday afternoon, when his car was struck by a Diesel switch engine
on Calumet Avenue. A brother, Milton Torrison, 59, of 1010 Dewey St., escaped
with only a slight scratch. The dead man was the first traffic fatality in
Manitowoc since July, 1951. He had retired as foreman of the Manitowoc electric
utility in 1951, and was a candidate for supervisor of the Fourth ward in the
March, 1953, primary.
Died of Skull Fracture
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc, County Coroner, said Mr. Torrison died of a
skull fracture, received when his car, going west on Calumet, was struck in the
left side by the engine. He said there would be no inquest.
Engineer Charles Orgeman, 60, of Antigo, told police that his diesel powered
engine had just been serviced at the round house, and he was heading for the
station to pull the 5:40 p.m. train to Marshfield.
Mr. Orgeman said the engine going north, had stopped while the pilot changed the
switch, and then started up again at about 10 miles an hour.The engineer and his
fireman, Frank Hurth, 59, of Antigo, said they saw the Torrison car coming
toward the intersection as the engine approached, but thought the auto was going
to stop, since the wig-wag signals were working.
Doors Sheared Off
They said the driver hesitated, then kept going across the intersection.The
train caught the car and sheared off both left doors, sending the sedan spinning
around on Calumet Avenue west of the tracks.
(snip)
Sgt. Melvin Reinhardt and Patrolmen Anton Glysch and Marvin Rein said that as
they drove to the scene, west on Calumet Avenue, the setting sun had set up a
blinding glare, and it was possible that the same thing had happened to Torrison
as he drove toward the intersection.
Funeral Wednesday
Funeral services for Mr. Torrison...
(Continued on Page 2) Accident (Continued from Page 1)
will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church. The Rev.
Roland Schwandt will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mr. Torrison was born in this city in 1883, attended city schools and in 1903
entered the employ of the private electric utility, then owned and headed by the
late John Schuette, Manitowoc banker. When the municipality acquired the plant
in 1914 he continued and when he retired in 1951, after 38 years with the
municipal plant was foreman and superintendent of construction.
Three weeks ago he filed papers to make the race for supervisor in the Fourth
ward. His name is on the printed ballots but may not be record in the official
canvass.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows, the Eagles, and the Brotherhood of the First
Lutheran Church.
In 1916 he married Miss Sophie Haberman. She survives with a son, James, of
Manitowoc; brother, Milton of Manitowoc, and two grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Urbanek and Schlei Funeral Home after Tuesday noon. The
casket will be moved to the church at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, March 2, 1953 pp. 1,2
Supervisor Candidate Was Driving; Brother Sustains Scratches
Walter E. (Elmer) Torrison, 69, of 416 N. Seventh St., was killed almost
instantly Saturday afternoon, when his car was struck by a Diesel switch engine
on Calumet Avenue. A brother, Milton Torrison, 59, of 1010 Dewey St., escaped
with only a slight scratch. The dead man was the first traffic fatality in
Manitowoc since July, 1951. He had retired as foreman of the Manitowoc electric
utility in 1951, and was a candidate for supervisor of the Fourth ward in the
March, 1953, primary.
Died of Skull Fracture
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, Manitowoc, County Coroner, said Mr. Torrison died of a
skull fracture, received when his car, going west on Calumet, was struck in the
left side by the engine. He said there would be no inquest.
Engineer Charles Orgeman, 60, of Antigo, told police that his diesel powered
engine had just been serviced at the round house, and he was heading for the
station to pull the 5:40 p.m. train to Marshfield.
Mr. Orgeman said the engine going north, had stopped while the pilot changed the
switch, and then started up again at about 10 miles an hour.The engineer and his
fireman, Frank Hurth, 59, of Antigo, said they saw the Torrison car coming
toward the intersection as the engine approached, but thought the auto was going
to stop, since the wig-wag signals were working.
Doors Sheared Off
They said the driver hesitated, then kept going across the intersection.The
train caught the car and sheared off both left doors, sending the sedan spinning
around on Calumet Avenue west of the tracks.
(snip)
Sgt. Melvin Reinhardt and Patrolmen Anton Glysch and Marvin Rein said that as
they drove to the scene, west on Calumet Avenue, the setting sun had set up a
blinding glare, and it was possible that the same thing had happened to Torrison
as he drove toward the intersection.
Funeral Wednesday
Funeral services for Mr. Torrison...
(Continued on Page 2) Accident (Continued from Page 1)
will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church. The Rev.
Roland Schwandt will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mr. Torrison was born in this city in 1883, attended city schools and in 1903
entered the employ of the private electric utility, then owned and headed by the
late John Schuette, Manitowoc banker. When the municipality acquired the plant
in 1914 he continued and when he retired in 1951, after 38 years with the
municipal plant was foreman and superintendent of construction.
Three weeks ago he filed papers to make the race for supervisor in the Fourth
ward. His name is on the printed ballots but may not be record in the official
canvass.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows, the Eagles, and the Brotherhood of the First
Lutheran Church.
In 1916 he married Miss Sophie Haberman. She survives with a son, James, of
Manitowoc; brother, Milton of Manitowoc, and two grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Urbanek and Schlei Funeral Home after Tuesday noon. The
casket will be moved to the church at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, March 2, 1953 pp. 1,2
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