The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-26
THE COLLISION NEAR CHICAGO.
Engineer of the Freight Train Charged with
Being intoxicated, Which He Denies.

CHICAGO, Sept. 25. - The coroner this
morning sent a telegram to the captain of
police of the Englewood district to arrest
engineer Twombley, of the freight train
which telescoped the Blue Island accommo-
dation train last night. He was subse-
quently taken into custody and lodged in
the station-house at Englewood. The police
say he has the appearance of one just re-
covering from the influence of liquor.
Twombley was slightly injured as he
jumped from his engine, just as it piled into
the passenger car. He ran to the assistance
of the people in the coach when he saw
what ruin he had caused, and after the ex-
citement he appeared much prostrated.
Twombley has the reputation of being
reckless and fast runner. and. moreover, it
is alleged by railroad officials that he is q
steady drinker. Immediately after the ac-
cident a great number of people insisted
that Twombley was drunk-there was some
talk of lynching him-but reporters found
people who assured them that the
engineer was perfectly sober. Twom-
bley gave the following account OF the
were proceeding on orders. did not
notice the train standing at South Engle-
wood until it was too late for me to avert
the trouble. did not see the red light
hanging from the semaphore arm. re-
versed my engine and put on the vacuum
brakes but it was all too late, and after
bidding my fireman jump for his life.
jumped myself"
ons who saw him before he left the
CO sag he had been drinking all the after
nc u. and that when his train was made up
ne was so stupid from liquor that he had to
be picked up and lifted into the cab. He
is a son of the mastermechanic of the road.
The first body taken from the wreck was
that of Miss Kelley. The steam had SO
boiled her hands and face as to turn the
skin horrible purple, and her features
were swollen ont of all resemblance to
their former shape. The others were not so
badly disfgured, and only one person was
the tremendous cloud of hot steam that
filled every corner of the car before the
echoes of the first crash had died out.
GINS Mulcahy, a messenger boy, who was
in the wrecked car, died of his injuries this
morning. l.. A. Cloche. the fireman of the
freight engine, is detained as a witness.
Both he and engineer Twombley were
somewhat injured. Both have made state
ments in regard to the matter and agree in
asserting that the blame for the accident is
due to the neglect of the conductor of the
passenger train. They say that no warning
lights were placed at the end of the rear car
and that they did not know of the danger
until they were within three car lengths of
time. and were running about fifteen miles
an hour when the accident occurred. Each
asserts that he stuck to the engine, and
crawled out of the debris after the acci-
dent. Twombley declares that he was not
drunk and that he had not drunk any thing
for long time.
Conductor Buford and brakemen Whitted
and Parker, of the freight train, were ar
rested this evening On a south bound pas
senger train on the Rock Island road. near
N witnesses
and it is believed were about to leave the
ri fv