Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-03
ENGINES COLLIDE.
Northwestern Freight and Switch
Engines Come Together In
the Yards
Both Damaged and Will Have to 9,
to the Shops Marrow Escape
Of Enginemen.

"A crash, accompanied by q brilliant
array Of sparks, told several passengers
and depot bystanders Tuesday evening
at 7:45 o'clock that two engines had
collided in the west yards. at a point
Immediately west Of the depot platform
at Second avenue.
1t did not take long for q crowd to
gather and for moment. owing to the
position Of the engines, 1t was feared
that loss OF life had resulted. Fortu-
,nately, however, such proved not TO be
the case.
E At 7:45 o'clock a Northwestern switch
engine. No. 1884, in charge OF Engineer
Jack Parker and Fireman Art Croft, Of
this city, was making its way east over
the line, evidently with the intention Of
getting out Of the way of No. SIS time.
A mogul. No. g. in charge Of Night
Hostler Tom Dicks, had just pulled
down into the yards to get on the house
track for the night, having pulled into
the city on work train, in charge OF
Conductor Jim Hinsel, of Belle Plaine
and Engineer Harry Herring. Dicks
was going west to get onto the house
track and was alone on the engine. Be-
Ing on the right side he was unable to
see the approach of the switch engine,
which was coming at a pretty good gait.
The engines struck at the junction OF
the switch, the cylinder head of the
switch engine striking the other about
midway Of the side rod, breaking that
demolishing the left side of the cab and
pushing the tank OFF the track. Both
engines came to standstill immedi-
ately. and each engineer spoke to the
other to ascertain II he were injured.
Engineer Parker stepped from his ems
CINE, as did also the hostler and Fire
man Gron, of the switch engine Parker
asked Dicks. What in hi he was try
ling to do" and the latter replied that
he did not see him until the engines
came together. With that the engineer
LOT the switch engine tottered and fell,
being caught by his fireman and two or
three bystanders as he swooned A
surgeon was summoned and in the
meantime the engineer was taken to the
baggage room. where he remained un-
til an ambulance could be called, when
he was removed to his home. 4O1 South
Sixth street. He was there examined
and it was found his injuries We're con-
fined to bruises about the back and
hips. His fainting spell. it is thought,
was due to a reaction setting In after
| the nervous shock caused by the acct
dent.
The heavier engine. the 60, was the
worst damaged. as 1t was barely NOV
ing at the time of the accident. In fact,
LII the switch engine had been a few
seconds farther away the accident
would not have happened. The left side
of the switch engines cab was badly
wrecked and the cylinder head was
broken. The switch engine did not
leave the track, and it was easy work
to get it to the round house with the
assistance of freight engine that was
in the yards. The 60 was gotten to the
house with little more dificulty, altho
lit was not necessary to call a wrecking
derrick. Both the engines will have to
go to the shops for repairs, another en-
CINE. No. 1S5. having been sent here this
morning to do the work Engineer
Parker, of the switch engine, was UNI
able to see the approach OF the other
locomotive owing to the fact that her
headlight had not been lighted. and as
it was so short a distance the hostler.
did not think it necessary to light up.
The accident was very lucky one
for all concerned, and the narrowest es-
cape was for Fireman Croft, OF the
switch engine. He was on the side OF
the cab that was demolished, and 1t is
the greatest wonder in the world that
he wasn't crushed when the two loco
motives met