Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-16

TALKS OF THE WRECK.
Conductor Mike osconnor Tells His
x Experience.
tFrom Mondays Dairyl
Conductor M. O'gonnor, of Burling.
fton, a former resident of this city, and
who was in charge Of the Inflated Bur
| lington No. last Monday when it was
wrecked at Thayer, was in the city
yesterday calling on his old friends.
Mike" as he is known to nearly every
man, woman and child in Ottumwa,
was one of the fortunate ones who
passed through that terrible affair at
Thayer without a scratch. Mr.. O'Con-
nor has been in. the employee of the
Burlington for about quarter of
century and this was the first serious
wreck that he had ever been in, while;
in charge of train.
Talked to Courier Man.
| Mr. O'Connor was interviewed by
Courier representative last evening
and he told in few words the thrill
ing scenes that took place when the
trains struck and Immediately after
4 wards O'Connor was sitting in the
/ dining car "Ottumwa" when the crash
came, and, after extracting himself,
he began giving his attention to his
wounded passengers. When it is TAX
en- into consideration that there were
in the neighborhood of fifty Of these,
4 it can be seen at glance that Mr..
/ O'Conner had big job on his hands.
One of his first acts was to break into
the commissary of the diner and get
all the liquor and supplies that he
could use and going among the wound
ed passengers he began his labor. Ev-
cry man and woman that he could get
at were given stimuIants and then as
many as could be were carried into the
sleepers, which had remained standing
on the track.
| Made Hospital.
4 Here a temporary hospital was ar
ranged, and when the special train
with railroad officials and surgeons ar
! rived on the scene, Mr.. O'Connor had
nearly all his passengers taken care
Of 1t was for this work that Mr..
O'Connor has been the recipient of
commentator on every hand since
that fatal day. One passenger espec.
tally, l.. M. Gallup, ranchman seven
n ty-two years of age, who was badly cut
around the head is especially grateful
to Mr.. O'Connor Mr.. Gallup was one
of the first reached, and after he had
been given first aid" he was sent to
the hospital at Creston. He is recov.
ering from his injuries in good shape
and will be able to return to his home
in few days more.
The Financial Loss.
Mr.. O'Connor was asked as to how
, much the financial loss to the company
) would be. He said, he had no idea Of
what the cost of settling with the pas
? sengers would amount to, but he
thought about $4,000 to $4,000 would
r cover the loss to the equipment. He
said the company was settling. with the
passengers as fast as possible and hao
I agreed with nearly all of them. He
\ said every man was getting all he ask
o ed, and he thought everyone would be
9 settled up with this week.
May Be Salisbury.
Since the creation of the Office o.
B fourth grand master by the Brother
0 hood of Railway Trainmen, much spec
Q ulation has been INDUCED in among
n the railroad men as to who would ge
o the Office. There are good reason!
. for believing that a we'll known Bur
y lingtontroute man, who has been run
O ming into Ottumwa for several years
0 will be the lucky one. This man i:
0 Conductor Charles T. Salisbury OF the
o Galesburg- Ottumwa pool. At presen
0 Conductor Salisbury's name is the
Q most frequently mentioned of any fol
y the place, and it is the general i'm
0 preston of the delegates who have
Q been to Milwaukee that he will get the
y honor. 1t would greatly please tn.
O Burlington route men if Conductor
0 Salisbury is given the place, they fee
that it could not be bestowed on worth
Ter shoulders He has been an active
0 member of the order for many years
n and has helped in large measure tt
O make the B. of R. T. in this vicinit.
O what it is today, one of the stronges
9 of railroad orders. The decision as tt
= who will get the honor will probabl.
be decided at today or tomorrow
4 meeting of the grand lodge, as it il
understood that a man will be selected
q for the place before the grand lodg
v adojurns. The position carries with i
q a good salary and is a very desirable
v position. Whoever gets it will hav
i to resign his position with the railroa,
. and give his entire time to that place
;, The headquarters of the order are il
= Cleveland, Ohio, and it is more thai
Il likely that the lucky man will have t,
). remove to that city. Several othe
n names are being mentioned beside
;. that of Conductor Salisbury, but he i
y thought to have the best show for tn
place.
:, ANSWERS Mr.. ROOSEVELT.
e The Philippine Question Is Treated b
l. w. J. Bryan.
Lincoln, Neb., May 13.-Mr. Bryan
y in the current issue of the Commonel
% pays his respects to Vice.Presiden