A Crowbar Through the Skull: The Mill Hand Nobody Heard in Time

John Krips, in the employ of J. P. Cerneck and assisting in the work of tearing down the old Spirit Valley planing mill, was instantly killed about 2:30 Monday afternoon.

Krips was working with a crowbar at some distance from the other workmen. Near him was a heavy timber, 8x8, 16 feet long, standing erect on a shorter post. Evidently Krips, by his work with the bar, jarred the standing timber and caused it to fall. The other workmen saw his danger and shouted to alarm him, but he failed to see the timber, and it struck him on the head, forcing his head onto the crowbar which he held in his left hand. The bar entered his head at the left temple and went clear through his skull, protruding about six inches from the back of his head. He was dead by the time his fellow workmen could reach him.

The body was taken to the Miller morgue, where it was held pending the arrival of word from eastern relatives. Wednesday morning a telegram was received from Park Rapids, Minn., directing the preparation of the body for shipment to that point.

Krips was about 30 years old and made his home at the Nagle boarding house. He had been in town about four months and was well liked by all who came in contact with him. He was unmarried, but has a sister and other relatives residing at Park Rapids, Minn.