Posted on: Marinette County, WI Obits Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Wi/MarinetteObits/138 Surname: Boyle, Connahan, Rodgers ------------------------- Wednesday, August 21, 1901 - "The Daily Eagle", Marinette, Marinette County, Wisconsin A CHILD KILLED The Infant Son of John Boyle Almost Instantly Killed by Street Car Particulars of Accident No One Seems to Know How it Occured. - Child's Body Was Not Mangled A very sad accident occurred last night about eight o'clock. Roger Patrick Boyle, the little son of John Boyle, residing at 2614 Hall Ave., was almost instantly killed in front of and almost under the parent's eyes. Although no one seems to know exactly how the accident occurred, the fact is that the little child was killed by a passing street car, run by John Weiler. How it Happened As was stated before, no one can state definitely just how the child met his death. The little fellow with some older children was playing around the sidewalk where Mr. Boyle was working. Everybody's attention was distracted for the moment. The first known of the accident was a scream from one of the little girls on the walk and when the father, who was not more than twenty feet from the track, reached the little body, life was all but extinct. There is no doubt that the car did the fatal work, although there were several teams passing at the time, and everyone seems to have been so rattled that no one can give any definite statement. John Weiler, the motorneer, who was running the car at the time, disclaims all knowledge of the accident. He is sure that the front of the car did not strike the child, and knew nothing of it till his return from the upper end of the line, when he was informed that his car had killed a child. One thing is certain. The wheels did not pass over the body. It is thought that the little one, perhaps attracted by the light of the passing car, toddled out, and to all appearances ran into the side of the car, probably falling under the foot board, or against the side of the car. When it was picked up after the accident, it was lying at the side of the track and examination proved that one leg and arm were broken and that the spine and several ribs were also fractured. John Weiler's Story Following are the words spoken by John Weiler, the man who was running the car at the time. When interviewed, he said; "I cannot believe that I killed that child. I knew nothing of it at the time until on my way back to the depot switch, I saw quite a crowd and some one had said that John Boyle's little boy had been killed. I know that the wheels did not pass over him, because I felt no jar in the car. I noticed on my way up several children playing in the road, but when the front of the car, on which I was standing, passed them, they all seemed to be out of danger and I paid no further attention to them. I can't believe now that I killed that child." The parents were almost prostrated by the news but when informed as to how the accident happened seemed not inclined to blame the Street Car Company or the motorneer. It may be regarded as an accident, which had they been forewarned, might have been averted, but under the circumstances, no one is considered responsible. Definite arrangements for the funeral have not yet been completed. Misses Julia and Bridget Boyle have been notified and are expected home from Niagara this noon." Note: Roger Patrick is interred at Woodlawn Catholic Cemetery in Marinette, Wisconsin, with his grandparents, Charles Connahan and Margaret Rodgers. Link: Doran Family History and Genealogy URL: <http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/d/o/r/James-Doran/>