Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-10-24
Two Hen Killed
AND OTHERS INJURED IN A
WRECK ON THE WABASH AT
MARTINsBURG TUESDAY.
A Through Freight Train Crashed
Into the Rear of a Local Freight
and Tore Up Things Generally
The Killed and Injured.

A terrible accident occurred on the
Wabash at Martlnsburg Tuesday even
ing about six O'Clock, which resulted in
the death of two men, the injury of
several others and the total destruction
of a number of freight cars. Local
freight train No. p, in charge of Con-
d1ctor Williams, was standing on the
main track in front of the depot, when,
without a moments warning, through
freight No. 23 Numbered down the
track at the rate of thirty miles an
hour and crashed iuto the rear end of
the local, tearing up the eaboose and
four freight cars, killing W. men and
injuring others.
For a few minutes the air was filed
with flying debris and the shouts of
the terrified trainmen. After this had
subsidized the work of looking for the
dead and injured was begun. Three
men, o. 7. Harris, of Fulton, Edwin
Thompson, of near Centralia, and
Daniel Kehoe, q Wabash pump repair
er, were all in the caboose at the time
of the crash and that they rel not
all instantly killed is almost a miracle.
As it was the two latter were found
dead while Harris is badly injured.
Four empty freight ars and the Ca
boose of train No. 21 were entirely
destroyed, being literally split into
kindIing wood, while the engine and
four cars of No. % were demolished.
Each train had orders to look out for
the other and the engineer on %
claims that he did not q the rear
lights on 81 until it was too late to
stop his train. He reversed the lever
and put ON the air brakes, but it was
too late and when he saw that a col
lision could not be averted he and the
fireman jumped, thereby saving their
lives.
The track east of Martinsburg runs
in a straight line for about four miles,
and it is thought peculiar that the en-
gineer Of % did not see the rear sig
nails on q in time to stop his train.
The force of the collision was so great
that the entire depot building was
moved a foot or more out of its regu-
lar position and the platform torn up
as easily as if it had been made of
pasteboard.
Conductor Williams had a very mar
row escape from death. He was
standing in a freight car unloading it
when someone yelled "Look out!"
He went to the door of the car and
looking up the track, saw the ap-
preaching train, which was not more
than two car lengths from his C aboose.
He jumped, but before he reached the
platform the crash came and when he
landed on the platform he was fol-
lowed by the car, in which be had just
been. Had he not very speedily got
ten out of the way he would undoubt-
eddy have been crushed to death.
Edwin Thompson, who was killed,
liv es at Tulip, near entralia, and his
occupation ia not known. Daniel Kehoe
was a pump repairer for the Wabash,
which position he had held for a num-
Der of years. O. L. Harris is a COM
mercial man aud is well known in
Mexico. 1t is not known how serious
ly he was hurt, but it is feared he re-
ceived internal injuries. He was
taken to the residence of Robert Nor
ris, Cashier of the Martlneburg Bank,
Immediately after the wreck, and at
present is getting along well. One or
two others whose names could no be
obtained received slight injuries.
AS soon after the wreck as possible
the wreck train arrived and by morn
ing the track was cleared. Persons
who witnessed the collision say that
the force with which the engine of No.
% tore up the cabooss and cars OF 81,
was something astounding. Car axles
we're broken into pieces like matches
and heavy box car disappeared be-
fore the engine like smoke before the
wind, nothing remaining of them but
a pile of splinters.
LATER.
1t was learned later that in addition
to the injured named above, N. e.
Vermillion and G. I'll. Sturgeon, both
of Middletown, Mo-, received injuries,
which, however, r not serious.
Edwin Thompson was a young farmer
about % years of age, living about IL
north of CentraIia and was very well
off. Daniel Kehoe was one of the old
est employees on this road and his
home was at Moberly.
A special from Martinsburg to the
LEDGER states that Owe Harris is not
seriously injured. The same report
says that confusion reigned supreme
in that usually peaceful village last
night. The wrecked freight cars
were burned at a late hour last night.
The funeral of Edwin Thompson
will be held at Talip on Friday, and
David Kehoe was buried In Moberly
to-day. Mayor Lupton took charge
of the bodies at Martinsburg.