The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-01-11
FATAL COLLISION.
7. R. Long Meets Death in a
Central Wreck.

I. R. Long Of SO4 F. aveune West
died at 1886 o'clock p. m. Monday
evening of injuries received at 1851
o clock p. m. in a wreck on the
Newton Branch" two miles west OF
New Sharon.
1t was a collision between engine
No. 25 in charge of Long and work
ing on dirt train and engine No. 26
run by Tom Cooney pulling water
train. The collision occurred at a
point about two miles west of New
Sharon on the Newton branch. Long
was backing to make New Sharon
and Cooney was running west to
Long. Both the engines were on the
branch doing construction work and
water train service and both of them
had orders to work between Newton
and New Sharon without reference to
special orders from the dispatcher.
They were to agree between them
selves as to the conduct of their
trains during the time they were on
the branch. Long Vas backing into
New Sharon and Cooney was head
ing at the time of the collision.
Cooney and his fireman saved them
selves by jumping from the engine
and Longs fireman, Edgar Farms
worth, did likewise. Long was
caught by the foot as he was about
to leave his engine and he was held
so that the steam fairly cooked his
body.
A messenger was hurried to New
Sharon and Oskaloosa was notified
with the admonition that Mrs. Long
should come Immediately. A special
train was hastily prepared and con-
ductor Chef Agan and engineer Davis
placed in charged of it. Mrs. Long
was summoned and Mrs. Will Rose
accompanied her. DR.. j. @. Barring
er was called and responded immedi-
ately and the train was soon on the
way to the scene of the wreck.
Long had been released from the
wreck as soon as was possible by the
men on the ground. He was taken
to farm house that was close by
and everything that was possible
was done osalleviate his sufferings.
The wife reached his side just few
minutes before his spirit passed
away.
The specially bearing the wife ar
rived at thesscene of the wreck about
20 minutes before the man died. He
had been calling for her and seemed
very impatient because she was so
long on thesroad. He knew that he
could not liveslong, but he determin-
ito live until his wife came. He gave
directions to those standing about
the bed and left word for his wife in
case she did not arrive in time. The
scene upon thes arrival of the wife
was touching in the extreme. She
went into the room where husband
lay and he knew her Immediately
and called her name. See kneeled at
the bedsideltand he raised his arm
and placed it about her shoulders
and in that position talked to her
about ten minutes, when he lapsed
into Inconsistencies and died as
going asleep.s The body was brought
to this city shortly after midnight
and taken Immediately to the Nc
Curdy undertaking house, where it
was prepared for burial.
The funeral will be held in Mar
shalltown, Wednesday, January 10,
The body will be shipped there on
passsengersNo. Wednesday morn
ing. There will be a prayer service
at the residence in this city.
Mr.. and Mrs. Long had been mar
ried about twelve years and were
much devoted to each other. There
had been born to them three sons
Russell aged IL, Glen aged z, and Roy
aged 3. Mr.. Long had been in the
employ of the Central for about Is
years, greater part of which time
he had spent in Marshalltown. He
removed to this city about two years
ago to take runs out of this city. His
last work had ltbeen the run on the
Newton branch and he had been
away from home about a week. He
was running into New Sharon in or
der that he might come home on the
evening passenger.
The collision was not a hard one.
Both trains were running slowly,
and Engineer Cooney saw the 20 and
stopped his engine, and when he saw
that a collision was inevitable he and
his fireman left the engine. The
tender of the 25 was forced up onto
cap and against the boiler head,
breaking the pipes and connections.
There was a terrible cloud of steam
over the wreck for a considerable
time and it was impossible for anyone
to approach to give assistance to the
imprisoned man. 1t was not until the
steam had escaped that he could be
helped. The man had been caught
by his feet which had been literally
crushed off and ne was also hurt about
the body. The right leg was broken
off about two and a-half inches above
the ankle and was held only by the