Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-25

v ry-i railroad, hay
FRANK W. MEANS, ing been in
the business about year. The oc-
currence was the most exciting here
about up to the time of the carrying
away of the draw span of the Rock
Island bridge last February, and was
more thrilling, too, AS it witnessed
the most marvellous escape Of two
lives. Freight train No. 10 on the
c., K. |. II 7. was starting west with
n train of II cars in the middle of
the day-about the time of last win
ter's accident-in charge OF Conduc-
tor Lon Clark Engineer Henry +
Seeley was ut the throttle. and in the
cab also we're Fireman Frank W.
Means and l.. l.. Burch, the latter n
brakeman. As the locomotive ap-
preached the bridge i, jumped the
track. 1t was but car length fro m
the end CT the slough bridge and
moving very slowly, but it STRUCK
the span, which snapped and down
went the engine and four of the cars,
forming a shapeless mass. Just as
the engine plunged. Burch slipped
out, he knew not how, but the engi-
neer and fireman stuck to their posts
and went down. Tie locomotive
was almost mpletely submerged
only the top of the cab projected.
Engineer Seeley broke window and
crawled out followed by Means.
They we're traced to the sho'e BY a
trail Of blood. Seelcy's jaw was
broken and he sustained a severe cash
in the forehead. Means face wa,
cut in several places. but none of the
wounds of either men were serious,
although they were painful and both
suffered for some time from tn.
shock. The wreck WAS Immediately
visited by hundreds of people. ant
the casualty is still distinctly re
called by many old citizens.
Means. AS said, is still in the EN-
ploy OF the Rock Island road. bein:
an engineer on the Eastern low.
division with residence in this city
He commenced railroading in Sep
TEN Der. 1873, after lived in Daven
port most of his early life, havin;
been born in Ohio in October, 1854
and coming west with his parents
while still quite young. He was
faithful fireman for number o
Years and in 1890 was elevated to tn
jpost of engineer, and is regarded Il
one of the most competent and trust
worthy in the comPany's emplo
here. He does not talk much abou
his escape. but there are many {
the BOYS about the round house VIII
remember it. and who tell it for him
Rumbiings of the Raj.
Auditor X. ii. Hudson, of the Pee
ria. is in Evansville on business.
Edward Friday, the Rock Islam
fireman, is visiting relatives AZ Wi
ton, Iowa.
+. Nicken, F. Brown, p Hill, an
l.. A. Woods. firemen on the Roe
Island, are off duty.
George Sudlow is doing cleric
work In the general offices Of til
Rock Island IL Peoria during vac;
ton.
> engineers James Wilkinson. Chair,
Pratt. Thomas Greedy and
| SpitgUt VI tuC AsoCA lsI3bu. Al
} taking vacations.
business is picking up on Il
Rock Island. Especially is this .
I OF the southwest division, ON while
two extra crews have been placed
J the past two days. This is due
the movement Of grain in the scut
west.
Two Rock Island road engineer
proposed passing last Su 1day {
Manhattan Beach. They bougl
tickets and started for the landin,
There were two boats Their,
They boarded one. aud when the
found themselves passing throus
, the government bridge they realizt
their mistake. At 6 o'clock the
were wandering about the streets
Por. Byron. Finally the City
Winona came along and they land,
in Rock Island in time 20 go out {
their runs.
II is not improbable that the vi:
of Chicago. Milwaukee X 81. Pa
railway officials to this city the 9th
day had something more than ordil
airy significance attached to it. tt
company only owns tracks As far
East Moline. coming into this eli