Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-06-27

Portage, Wis, June 26-Passenger
train No. -, in charge of Conductor
Michael McQueeney, which leaves this
city over the main line of the Chica-
20, Milwaukee < St. Paul road for
Milwaukee at 1925 o'clock every morn
ing, was wrecked at Ketchum's Point
inside the city limits, yesterday morn
ing. Engineer c. W. Snow was killed
and Fireman Patrick Kiley was badly
cut and bruised,
The accident occurred at the canal
drawbridge, just after the bridge had
been drawn to let through a boat
which took a pleasure party up the
Fox river The bridge had been
closed, but the derailing switch had
not been closed and the train ran into
it, The bridgetenders and bystanders
assert that the semaphore showed the
danger signal and that the accident
was the fault of the trainmeu The
engine and tender were demolished
and the baggage and mail cars dam
aged. The engine went into the canal
Engineer Snow died at his post and
was taken from the cab after the
engine had buried itself in the mud
and water at the bottom of the canal
He had been in the employ of the St
Paul road for over thirty years and
had made a million and a half miles
since his connection with the road.
He was about 60 years of aae.
The engine was thrown down a
5-foot embankment, into the river
and the skull of the veteran engineer
was crushed. He died in a few min
utes after being taken from the wreck
and the river.
One of the company's surgeons, Dr..
Meacher of Portage, was on the train
at the time of the accident as were
several other physicians, and they rem
dered prompt aid but nothing could
be done for the dying engineer, Fire
man Kiley, who went over with the en-
CINE, escaped with slight injury, and
walked from the wreck. The mail
car was also thrown over the bank,
and the baggage car and coaches de-
rallied. but no others were injured in
the least Conductor McQueeney,
we'll known in this city, was in charge
of the train, which arrives here daily
from Portage at 1890 o'clock and
leaves now at AS, being for years
the o'clock train out of Milwaukee,
The train, known as No. p, leaves
Portage at 1925 a. m, and 1t pulled
out on time. At the Portage canal
bridge is a signal intended to notify
engineers when the draw is open or
opening, and in addition, as Safe
guard. an automatic deratIing device
is in operation a reasonable distance
from the bridge. For some reason
the engineer failed to note the usual
signal of danger or it did not work
perfectly. is not now clear At all
events he did not come to a stop and
the train neaIed the bridge at fair
rate of speed. Striking the auto
matte device, the engine was at once
derailed, but owing to the speed 1t
was plunged over the EN- nkment
and rolled into the canal, d.aWlng one
car and derailing the others. Engi-
neer Snow received a crushed skull in
the wreck as the engine went over,
and it was at first reported that he
had been drowned beneath the loco
motive. This was not the case, how
ever. as he was removed from the
wreck and was still alive, although
diving from his injuries a few minutes
later.
The dead engineer made his home
for years at Portage, where he leaves
a wife. They had no chilc'en. He
was about 60 years of age, and had
been in charge of engines for the st.
Paul company for thirty years or
longer. He was known as the Jolly
old man." it being said of him by Of
ficials and others on the road that
he was never known to have lost his
temper or to have abused anyone He
was looked up to by the young gener-
alton of engineers and trainmen as
sort of father, and his advice was fire.
ouently sought and freely given for
the good of men in the service. In
cases of sickness Of employees he was
one of the first to visit the man and
was always performing some kind OF
service for others.