From: Emmental, Bessarabia
6 December 1931

Dear Staats-Anzeiger!

A terrible accident happened here last Sunday. A passenger train derailed beyond the tunnel near Balsad. The engine and several rail cars crashed down the railroad embankment. Two men of the train crew and five passengers lost their lives and many were injured. An investigation determined that a screw bolt had dislodged at a rail and caused the derailment.

As I had reported previously, Mr. Anton Frison has bought a homestead here. He celebrated this event last Saturday. His neighbors and the village officials also participated. Mrs. Marzelina Frison was an excellent hostess. Among the guests besides me, were Wendelin Nagel, Aurora Nagel, who is my neighbor and others. We all had a great time singing, eating and drinking.

Several couples have married, namely Joseph Nagel, son of Wendelin and Luzia Mueller, daughter of Johannes, and also Miximilian [Maximilian?] Blotzki, son of Leonhard married Elisabetha Gross, daughter of Simon.

Melchior Dirk would like to have some information about his son Denisius Dirk. He believes that perhaps Joseph Mueller could provide him with the desired information.

Alexander Nagel passed away in the Lord on 29 November. He was born in the year 1884 and lived with his parents until he was inducted into military service. During his time in the service, his father had died. Soon after he was discharged from the service, his mother died. He then established his own home by marrying Aurora Gross, a daughter of Joseph in the year 1908. He lived happily and in peace until the World War.

In 1914, he was inducted and sent to the front against the Germans. He was captured and was a prisoner of war for five years in Germany. He returned home in 1919. The deceased has been a complete man and was capable of doing many things.

He held several offices. For seven years he was the churchwarden. After Zachaeus Kopp died, he was chosen as the treasurer for the new church. At the time of his death, he also was the chairman of the co-op store and the dairy. But death couldn’t care less about official positions and dignity. It tore our friend Alexander out of the middle of his full life, without him being sick.

On 24 November, he was still best man at the wedding of his brother’s child, his nephew. On Saturday, 28 November, he set up everything to butcher on Monday. Yes, man proposes and God disposes! Early on Sunday morning, 29 November, he fed his livestock. As always he ate breakfast and then went outside again to water the animals. When he was finished with that he came into the kitchen, sat down on a small bed and talked to his wife. She did not notice anything exceptional with her husband. She had barely entered an adjacent room, when her little girl came to her saying; “Mother come quickly, dad has fallen down.” She found her husband unconscious on the floor and called for the doctor immediately. However, the doctor could not be of help anymore.

Our priest had just returned from Bender for the funeral of Faustina Maas, who rested on a bier for visitation. Alexander could not make a confession but received the last rites. A heart attack ended his life at about 10 o’clock. The deceased left his wife and six children. May the Lord grant him eternal rest and let the perpetual light shine upon him! This should serve as information for his brother-in-law Joseph and wife Klara Mueller in Canada and all friends. I can further inform Edmund Hittel that his sister Faustina was administered the last rites when she died on 28 November. May the Lord grant her eternal peace! She had to suffer a lot.

Your mother Elisabetha has told me that she wanted to stay with you. I am supposed to write for you to return home. In my next report, I shall convey everything that the mother has on her mind.

With the best greeting and best wishes for the editor Mr. Brandt and all friends, we remain,

Adam and Pilagia Seifert