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Show Prominent Centerfield Man Meets Tragic Death i Crashes Into Moving Passenger Train and Body Is Hurtled 100 Feet-Remains to Be Sent East for Burial. James Tassie, the well known Centerfield merchant, met a tragic death last Sunday morning when the car in which he was riding crashed into passenger train No. 511 of the Denver & Rio Grande, northward bound. The tragedy happened at about ten-thirty and according to eye witnesses was at a time when there was a cloud of dust sweeping up the highway and over the railroad crossing just north of Salina. Mr. Tassie was thrown about a 100 feet and when found was entangled in the top of the Ford truck in which he was riding. His face was badly mangled and both legs were broken, and his body was bruised and scratched. The train was in charge of Engineer Johnson and W. A. Ar-ries, Ar-ries, conductor. As soon as the body of Mr. Tassie was rescued from the wreck, Carl Anderson, who was enroute north in his auto, started for the Salina hospital hospi-tal with the injured man. Before the hospital was reached however, life was extinct. According to D. G. Burges of Salina, Sal-ina, who was nearby in his field, Tassie Tas-sie was enroute south and notwithstanding notwith-standing the fact that the engineer of tlie train, who had full view of the approaching danger, sounded his whistle and bell of the train. It is thought that the wind and noise of the automobile in which Tassie was riding, prevented his hearing, with i the result that he crashed into the train. The news was immediately flashed to the daughter, Miss Margaret Tassie Tas-sie at Centerfield and later the daughter and sons of Salt Lake. Seymour, who had been at Salt Lake, did not learn of his father's death until his return to Gunnison about 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Another daughter, Mrs. W. R. Jensen, and two sons, James R. and Floyd, also of Salt Lake, were appraised of the tragedy and . arrived here Sunday evening. Mrs. Jeanette Brown of Aberdeen, Wash., another daughter, arrived in CenteriVldl ycsUtUay, having been met at Salt Lake by relatives. rel-atives. James Tassie, although a resident of the valley but a little over six years, was widely known. He had been conducting a merchandising store at Centerfield for several years past and in addition he was a whole-j whole-j sale dealer in eggs. Last fall he was ! elected justice of the peace of the j Centerfield district and during the time he served in this capacity he j gained hosts of friends for his firmness firm-ness in curtailing rowdyism. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America lodge, holding his membership mem-bership in Barrie, Vermont lodge, No. 8586. James Tassie was a native of Vermont, Ver-mont, having been boim at Barriej December 5, 1855. At the age of 21 j he cams west 'and settled at Rock Springs. A year after his arrival at ; the Wyoming town he. was married to Margaret Cunningham. With his bride he returned to his native country, coun-try, remaining there until six years ago, whie he again came west and located at Centerfield. When he was 50 years of age he joined the- Mormon Mor-mon church. His wife died some eleven years ago and before hor passing thirteen children were born. Only five of the children, howevo-, came west with the father. The surviving children residing west are Mrs. Lillian Jensen, James Rcy Tassie and Floyd Tassie of Salt 1 Lake, and Miss Marguerite and Seymour Sey-mour Tassie of Centerfield, and Mrs. Lillian Brown of Aberdeen, Wash. Funeral services will be held at three o'clock this afternoon from the Gunnison Valley high school. Following Follow-ing the services here the remains will be prepared for shipment to North Hero, Vermont, and will be tenderly laid beside his wife who is buried there. |