The Van Buren press., 1897-10-09
A Terrible Freight Wreck a
Porter.

|
A disastrous smash up in which one
life was lost took place just south of
Porter station on the Frisco Saturday
evening about 7;10 0 clock. On leav
ing the tunnel the engineer of fast
freight No. 30 found that he could not
operate the air brakes and the train
began running down the mountain at a
fearful rate of speed, estimated by the
engineer to have been IS miles an hour
when the wreck occurred.
The following from the Fort Smith
Times Democrat is as complete an
account as we have been able to get:
The wreck took place at trestle
about 100 yards south of Porter. Com
ing down the mountain the engineer
lost control of the engine and it passed
through Porter at the rate of 20 miles
an hour.
Forty yards south of the depot the
engine left the rails and swayed violent
ly from side to side. The engineer and
fireman both climbed out on the tender
and just before reaching the trestle
Mike German, the fireman, Jumped
He struck ON the side of the ravine and
rebounded like a rubber ball, landing
on his head down in the gully. He was
instantly killed. His body was brought
here, prepared for burial and shipped to
his home in Monett.
The engine broke loose from the cars
at the trestle and ran couple of
hundred yards farther down the track.
Fourteen cars went over the trestle and
were piled up beneath it.
Both brakemen went over with the
trestle. Robert Walker had a leg
broken and wound on the head. He
is now ut Charity Hospital, r. S.
Toland was considerably bruised up and
scratched up.
Albert McKeever. boy riding on the
train, received severe scalp wound
and George Korn, another passenger,
was also shaken up badly.
William Geister, the engineer,
escaped without injury. He stuck to
the engine The caboose did not leave
the track.
DR.. Cooper went up to the wreck
Saturday night and brought the
wounded men to this city.
The wreck delayed the passenger
trains Sunday and caused the excursion
to Springdale to be declared off The
! first train in Sunday was the cannon
ball. 1t went around by Claremore and
arrived here about $3.50 o clock in tho
afternoon.
There were some queer things noticed
in cleaning away the debris from the
Frisco wreck which took place at
/ Porter Saturday night.
One of the cars WAS loaded with water
mains. The car was not recognizable
but one of the pipes was driven through
five cars. A car of boots and shoes Mas
mashed fat and car of molasses and
one of crackers made fine muss.
! 4 car of glassware was in the wreck
/ but not more than sixth of its cargo
was broken. Several hogsheads were
broken all to pieces but none of their
I contents broken.
! Robert Walker. the injured brake
man, died At the Charity Hospital at
/ Fort Smith Wednesday. Walker was
"a years of age, and has family living
at Monett.
Gov. JONES has been requested by
Gov. Mount, Of Indiana. to address to
each of the MAYORS in Arkansas re-
quest for statistics showing the extent
of crime among the youth of the state
The information is for the approaching
national convention Of the Boys and
+ Girls National Home and Employment
Association. which meets at Indian
apolis December II and Is next. and
Gov. Mount SAYS it will be of great
value in aiding the association to place
a series of laws before state legislatures
for the Suppression Of crimes among
youth and Of equal Importance in
/ furnishing city councils with class OF
information that will enable them TO act
inteliseutly in the adoption of an
ordinance known as the ourfew
ordinance. Gov. Jones has complied
] with the Iudiana governor $ request.