Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-02-07

in two and libersting the horse.
unharmed.
Coffman and young Smith were
hurled against the boiler from,
and carried along on the platform
j The elder Smith was struck b,
the corner of the pilot and thrown
into the center Of the track but re-
bounded into the air and wat
caught by the lower point of the
pilot aud hurled from the track
The train passed over the re.
mainder of the wreck and ground
it into fine kindling wood. The
airbrakes brought the train to {
stop within its length and the
crew hurried back to the crossing
Smith was picked up dead, Lii
head mashed in shocking man.
ner. The old blanket used in the
wagon for laprobe, ard which
had been almost cut in two by the
wheels, was thrown over him.
The train crew we're in the act
of starting the train when a mum.
Der of excited people began point.
ing to the front end of the engine
and shouting, and the two addi.
tional victims we're discovered.
They we're taken off and carried
Into the baggage car and taken to
the baggage room of the local
city depot and the company'e
surgeon, DR. Lacy, and DIR Jenn.
ings summoned by telephone.
CoFTMAN's HEAD CRUSHED.
An examination of the wounds
disclosed their dangerous char
acter. The back part Of young
Coffman's head was crushed. one
eye was almost knocked out and
there were numerous scalp
wounds. The physicians perceived
that there was no hope of doing
anything for him and turned their
attention to the boy.
The right side of the lads skull
was found to be fractured and a
long cut in his forehead reaching
the base Of his nose. A thorough
examination disclosed the fact
that there was some chance of his
recovery and he was removed to
st Bernard's hospital for the nee.
essary surgical operation.
Young Coffman was left on the
trucks in the baggage room where
he had been placed when taken
from the train. He slowly sank
away and died shortly after G
O'Clock last evening.
The train was in charge Of Con-
ductor Van Gorder, Engineer
Mike O'Donnell and Fireman
Frank McDermott, and ali live in
Boone. Conductor Van Gorder
knew nothing of the accident un-
til after the train had stopped.
Engineer O'Donnell says the first
intlmation he had of it was when
he caught q glimpse of the horses
as they passed in front OF his en-
gine at the instant the wagon was
struck. His seat was op the op-
posite side from the approaching
wagon. Fireman McDermott says
he first saw the wagon asitemerg-
ed from the screen of bushes, and
had just time to warn the engineer
when it was struck.
RUNNING l2 MILES AN HOUR.
Each member of the crew agrees
that the train was only running at
a rate of twelve miles an hour.
The engineer says he sounded
the whistle twice at the other
crossing a block away and
the fireman is positive that he was
pulling the bell cord and that the
bell was ringing.
A number of the witnesses oi
the accident declare that the train
was running nearer forty miles
an hour and they say they cannot
recall any sound of bell or whistle
Mrs Coffnan, mother cf the
young man, was sitting in the
window looking at the approach.
ing train and saw the accident in
all of its details. She did not
know that her son was one of the
victims until he had been taken
to the local depot. Her first in
timation was br 'ueFt by a young
or child who found mitten near