Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1901-11-28
Big Rock Island Wreck.

tuesday at about 1890 a. m the
Rock Island extra stock train. con-
sisting of II cars and pulled by two
engines was wrecked about eight
miles east of the city. Seventeen
cars of cattle were derailed and thir-
teen were crushed into kindling
wood. Except slight bruises on an
engineer and fireman no trainmen
were injured. A man who was steal
ing a ride was killed instantly and
another was considerably bruised,
but will recover. 1t is estimated
that the amount of damage is about
$50, 900. The train was in charge
of Conductor Barton. Engineer
Solomon and Fireman Garbin were
in charge of engine No. SIC; En-
gineer Layman and Fireman Krieg
were on engine No. 491. The train
was loaded with cattle from the
Texas and Mexico ranges. In the
damaged cars 8 out of 10 are killed
or will die from injuries. Exper-
fenced railroad men say the wreck
is the worst of the kind they ever
saw. For a distance OF 100 yards,
the rails were torn from their places
and the ties were crushed into mere
splinters. It will take some time to
remove the debris. AS soon as the
material could arrive workmen be-
gan to make a new track around the
wreck. The wreck trains from Dal-
hart and Harrington were ordered to
clear the main line as soon as pos
sible. The trains were delayed only
few hours. Trains No. 23 and "a
transferred the mail and baggage.
Yesterday the trains passed the wreck
over the Temporary track. Road
master Fahey should be commended
for pushing the work of making a
new track and saving considerable
expense to the railroad by delayed
trains.
The true cause of the wreck has
not yet been determined. 1t is mere
conjecture. There Is an inclination
among some of the railroad men to
place the blame on the section men.
1t is alleged that the right rail was
raised, and not safe and there was
no signal for the engineer. The
foreman of the section says the place
where they were working was not
dangerous, that there was no eleva-
ton of the rail that would be con-
sidered unsafe for trains. The en-
tire train passed over the place.
Nine of the rear cars were not de-
rallied. The distance from the front
engine to the place where the sec
ton men were at work is over 100
yards. There is evidence of some
thing striking the ties quite dis
tance at the approach of the place
where the section men were working.
Judging from the indentations it is
possible that brake beam may have
been the cause of the accident.
A search in the dead mans clothes
revealed the name of John White,
but no address was given. The re-
mains were buried in the Liberal
cemetery as his friends could not be
located. The man who was with
him says that they were riding in
the water tanks in the stock cars
with the cattle. Both the bodies
were found under the car timber and
COW flesh.
A pitiable sight was the cattle ly-
ing in painful positions and most of
them held firmly by pieces of tim
Der and iron rods. The groans of
the animals were almost human.
The cowmen and other citizens from
town assisted in releasing the cattle
that were able to walk. Everyone
acquainted with the seeming un-
grateful nature of the steer from
Texas or Mexico will understand the
danger involved in allowing the steer
to gain his liberty. When he is firm
ly on his feet, he attempts to gore
his benefactor. The people worked
about as hard in getting out ofreach
when the steer went con the prod''
as they did in getting him from the
wreck.