The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-14

after one o'clock on Saturday afternoon.
The wreck occurred in a deep cut
around sharp curve and at the time
when the work train was bringing a
load of one hundred and eighty labor
ers out from dinner at Deloit. The
colliding train was a gravel extra run
ming with clear orders from Rockwell
City to Arion. The gravel train was
proceeding at the rate of from Is to 20
miles per hour and the work train at
about ten mile rate. The men were
huddled into box cars and as the engine
was backing them out of Delolt, the
first warning they had was when the
engine of the gravel train came crash
ing through the cars in which they
we're seated. A terrible scene of con-
fusion, destruction. and agony ensued.
The gravel train engine was complete
wreck and the cars were torn to splin-
tiers throwing their human freightage
u. either side of the track amid the
groans and screams of the frightened
and injured men, some lay prone as
they fell so bruised as to be unable to
rise, some with broken limbs ran to-
ward the right of way fence and then
fell faintlng from sheer agony. Road
master Gillease was among the injured,
but despite his broken leg he showed
admirable GOODNESS and generalship.
Messages for aid we're sent to Rock
we'll City and soon relief trains we're on
hand and the wounded men were
brought to Denison.
Word did not reach Denison until
nearly three O'Clock when the train
bearing the injured was already on its
way. With admirable promptness Mr..
Sullivan, chief of the Central's engineer
corps at this place, notified Surgeon
Boyle, and Immediately began sending
teams down to meet the train. Ten
men were first reported injured, then
fifteen. and when the train finally ar
rived twenty five was found to be the
actual number. 1t was, q mournful
procession which wound its way up the
hill to town. Each load told its tale Of
broken limbs and wounds and bruises:
Arrived at the various hotels hundreds
of willing hands were found to help the
poor fellows to comfortable resting
places. Sympathy was in every face
and tears in many eyes. Many Of our
ladies fastened to the scene bringing
bedding and whatever might be of use
to the suffering men, one good old far
mer slipped a little flask from bis pock-
ct and held up suffering mans head
while his good wife poured some of the
reviving liquor down the sick mans
throat. All this was done with the
simple honesty of those who seeing
suffering know of no other course but
to alleviate it. Some difficulty was ex-
perienced in finding accommodations,
several were lodged at the Fargo
House, some others at Carsten's hotel,
some at Klinkers, while several of the
slightly injured were provided for at
the county Jail which was fitted up as q
temporary hospital,
It was $50 when the men were
brought up town and it is a credit to
DR.. Boyle and to the physicians whom
he summoned from every part of the
county that within two hours every
man had been provided for, his wounds
dressed and his injuries attend to.
Roadmaster Gillease was not brought
to Denison but special engine was
placed at his disposal and he was
quickly taken to his home at Cherokee.
Engineer Fred Peterson of Fort Dodge
who had charge of the gravel train en-
CINE, suffered from severe confusion
of the nose and his knee was injured.
Little is known as to who is RESPONSE
BILE for the wreck. Itseems like piece
of gross carelessness ON some ones part
by which the lives of nearly 200 men
were imperiled. We learn from what
may be considered good authority that
the work train left Deloit without or
ders OF any kind, simply trusting to
luck to get out of the way of any extra.
IL oulo 10 ouC CdoOs luc ul0u WHO LOOK
this fearful responsibility should be
severely punished The railroad COM
pany certainly can have no object in
shielding them as it will doubtless be a
heavy financial loser.
A visit to the scene of the wreck
showed us scene of indescribable
ruin, the engine looked like a ruined
threshing machine and the box cars
were in splinters. Whatever was still
of value was withdrawn from the
wreck and the debris was burned in OF
der to clear the track. Attic boarding
cars in Deloit Saturday evening one
heard a hundred stories of hair breadth
escapes. The following is the list of
the injured:
JoBN SpeLWIrz. slight confusion leg.
VIM. HAGEN bruise left leg.
WIN. BERKHARr, wound right shoulder
ED SAdTER, wound front left knee, hin.