Boy hit by a train

Kaukauna, the oldest recorded settlement in Wisconsin, will soon be 230 years of age. There will be no formal birthday gathering due to the virus. Saturday June 13^th is the day of the celebration. You can celebrate with signs and balloon in your yard and go off for a drive thru the city between 1 and 3 in the afternoon to enjoy this great city.

In honor of the “Birthday of Kaukauna,” this is a story from the past. 

April 2, 1947

"My boy was hit by the train."

“Call the ambulance! My son, Vincent was hit by a train,” were the sobbing words of Mrs. John Gloudeman, Seventh Street. “Send an ambulance to LaFollette Park. A boy was hit by a train,” a man called out. Soon Mrs. Gloudeman and the neighbors were running to LaFollette Park telling others on the way. “Where is your son,” asked the policeman and ambulance driver. “I don’t know,” was her sobbing voice, “find him, quickly please,” The search began. The police and people searching the banks of the river where the incident happened to no avail. It then occurred to them that he may have been caught under the train and dragged with it. Sirens began to blow as the squad car sped on the way to the Combined Locks Depot where the train was switching. Police questioned the engineer about hitting a boy in Kaukauna. He didn’t know what they were talking about.  The underside of the train was checked for blood, no evidence was found. In the meanwhile, Vincent Gloudeman (the body), who was returning from taking his dad’s lunch to the Railroad Shops, noticed people running down the street. “Why is everyone going to the park?” “one of the Gloudeman boys was hit by a train.” “That’s my brother,” Vincent said almost crying. Vincent ran down the hill and saw his brother Howard in his boat along the bank of the river. “Who was hit by the train,” he asked a person near him. Vincent Gloudeman was the answer. “I’m Vincent,” he said. Here he is, he’s alive!” shouted the excited person. How did it all happen? Well I will tell you. Vincent was carrying his dad’s lunch to the railroad shops where he worked. He saw a train moving slowly toward him, so he slipped between two box cars to avoid the wait. In the park was a boy watching him. When the train had passed Vincent was gone, as Vincent was out of sight walking in the other direction.  

Written by Theodore Gloudeman as an entry for the Times Feature Story contest.