The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-04
CAUSE OF THE WRECK.
Further Particulars of the Disaster on
the Santa Fe at Bosworth, Mo.

Forgetfulness on the part of Fred
Heady was the cause of the collision
between the Santa Fe California train
No. and the east bound local train No.
10 two miles east of Bosworth, No, at
11:07 yesterday morning. When he first
caught sight of the approaching train
he realized he was at fault, refused to
leave his engine, and paid the penalty
with his death.
BoswOrth is the regular meeting place
of trains 1 and Is. Unless otherwise
ordered by the dispatchers, east bound
trains have always the right of track
over west bound trains, but it appears
that it has been customary for the dis
patchers to give No. 1 the right of
track. The meeting time is II O'Clock,
and the waiting limit five minutes
No. Is reached BOsworth at exactly
II o'clock, and after waiting the re-
quired five minutes, pulled out expect
ing to meet No. at Dean Lake, a point
six miles east. No. 1 had been delayed
twelve minutes by east bound train No
early in the morning, and was about
ten minutes late on arriving at Dean
Lake. Instead of taking the siding at
that station and meeting No. Is, Engi-
neer Heady and Conductor Blue over
looked the fact that No. IS had the
right of track, and pulled through the
station as was customary. At 11:O7
running a.
high rate of speed, they came together
on a high tressle two miles east of Bos-
worth
The trestle on which the trains met
is about the center of a direct curve of
some distance. There is a heavy growth
of timber on the inner side of the curve
and it was impossible for either engf-
neer to see the other train until they
were on the curve and but a few hun
dred feet apart.
Engineer Heady was the first to see
the approaching train. When he first
caught sight of the other engine he
called to his fireman, MY God look
there" Fireman Donovan says that
his face turned white as a sheet and
that he never witnessed a more agoniz-
ing expression. Donovan swung from
his seat into the gang way and called
to Heady to jump. This call he re-
peated three times, but Heady kept his
seat and replied but once Take care
of yourself" He had reversed" and
applied the air, and when the trains
came together the speed was greatly
diminished. Donovan jumped a few
seconds before the crash came, but
Heady went over the embankment with
his engine.
Engineer Gem and Conductor Proc
tor were in charge of the local train
After applying the air Gem jumped. as
They rolled down an embanknent
about fifty feet but with the exception
of a few slight bruises were not in
Jured- Both engines, the 500 and the
I34, were badly demolished and fell
from the tIestle. The two baggage cars
and the first passenger coach of No. l
were overturned and the coach partially
telescOped.
Engineer Heady was caught between
the tank and the boiler under the en-
CINE at the bottom of the embankment
The lower portion of his body was hor-
ribIy scalded, and he lived but a few
hours after the collision.
Engineer Heady had been running
out of Topeka since January, 1895. His
home is in Fort Madison, Ia and the
remains were removed there last night
He was a WidOwer and leaves but one
son, who is at present in Minnesota. He
was well known and universally liked
among the railroad men.
General Manager Frey and General
superintendent Nudge, who were on an
inspection trip over the Chicago divis-
ion, went Immediately to the scene of
the wreck and looked after the clearing
of the track and caring for the injured.
The track was cleared in about seven
hours and No. l went through Topeka
at 1870 last night.
Four of the injured persons whose
names appeared in The Journal of last
evening, were brought to the hospital
in this city last night. They are James
Hickey, San Jose, Cal; w. J. Morgan
EmpOria; William Smith, Oklahoma
City, and John Mudec, Rodgers, Kan.
Louis Budway, the express messenger,
was taken to his home in Chicago, and
John McCabe, the news agent, to his
home in Marceline. John Mcconnell
and Curtis Barber were taken to the
Fort Madison hospital. All of the in
juries are of a temporary character.
Conductor Blue of train No. 1 will
probably be held equally responsible
with Engineer Heady for the collision.
It is said that Conductor Blue was busy
making up reports and did not notice
that the train had passed Dean Lake.
The wreck means loss of several
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