Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-04
KILLED THE CREWS FOREMAN
Another Fatal Wreck Happens the H.
Starred Union Pacific Hill Train.
ENGINE AND FIVE CARS DlTCHtD.
George Gleason Crushed Under the
Pile of Debris Narrow Escape
of Engineer and
Fireman.

There was another freight wreck IN the
Union Pacific yards last evening i'll which
one man lost his life.
George Gleason foreman of tho hill crew
was the unfortunate victim.
Engine number ll1i left the lower Union
Pacific yards at 80 o'clock, bound for the
upper yards in South Omaha. The train
consisted of twenty-five box cars loaded with
ice, lumber and coal,
When crossing jackson street at Sixth the
engine, which was running under II full head
of steam, suddenly jumped the track and
was turned completely over. The five cars
following were telescopod and piled up on the
east side of the track.
George Gleason was standing in the gang
way of the engine when the accident hap
pened and was buried under the water tank.
The body was frightfully mutilatcd and
death must have been instantaneous.
Gleason was a married man and lived at
20l7 South Thirteenth street.
The engine was in charge Of Engineer
Charles Whitney. Gus Hamburg was his
fireman Whitney was thrown through tho
window of his cab and quite badly cut about
the head besides being considerably
bruised Hamburg was also thrown
to the ground and sustained number
of severe injurses to was cut
about the head. The patrol wagon removed
Hamburg to St. Joscph's hospital, where his
wounds were dressed
a wrcCkinE crew in charge of Robert Nc
l\uley was promptly called out and at once
commenced the work of removing tho body
of Gleason from under the water tank 1t
took over three hours hard work to remove
enough of the debris to get at the body, Tho
remains were at once taken to leafy 81
Hcaty's undertaking rooms
George ID. Ellis was the rear brakeman on
the train and said that he was riding on top
of the last car when the train went into the
ditch. Ellis said that the first thing he
saw was the engineer and fireman
being thrown from the cab windows.
Ellis jumped to the ground just as the cars
piled up and ran to the head of the trai II.
He assisted the engineer and fireman TO a
| place of safety and then notified the yard
| master who telephoned for the patrol wagon.
The engine, tender and five cars were a
| complete wreck. Inc cars were piled up on
! their ends but afterwards fell over COM
| pletely demOlisning them and scattering
their contents over quito space of ground
A large crowd soon gathered to witness
| the clearing away of the wreck, but was held
| in check and kept from crowding the wreck
! ing crew by squad of police under Sergeant
| Ormsby.
Gleason was a member Of the swtchmen's
union and also member OF Masonic ledge
Coroner Harrigan was telephoned for and
was on the ground before the body of the
dead man was taken from the ruins.
1t was a bad wreck and will cost the Union
| Pacific at least $1,000 or $4,000. Investiga-
tion at late hour last night failed to dis
cover any cause for the unfortunate accident
| The track was comparatively new one, but
| had been in constant use for some time.
Coroner Harrigan will hold an inquest
| over the remains OF Gleason today.