The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-09
BLAME IS FIXED.
Union Pacific Company Respon-
sible For Topeka Wreck.
Both Train Crews ExOnerated
by C0rOner's Jury.
NO UNCERTAIN SOUND.
Two Men Died ON Account of
Negligence of Company.
Conductor Ford Says Train Was
Very Close.
NO UNCERTAIN SOUND.

The coroner's inquest in the case of
the Union Pacific wreck which occurred
the morning of the 7th, was closed to-
day at noon, and the company held re-
sponsible for the death of A. s. NcCand-
less and John Parks. The crews of both
trains were held blameless.
The principal witness examined today
was Frank Ford. conductor of No. IA.
the train which was struck by engine
No. 1903, of the extra. He testified that
he was in the caboose when the train
stopped, and had climbed down on the
ground on the south side of the train
when the collision occurred.
At what time did your train stop at
the Rock Island crossing?" asked Coro-
ner Hogeboom.
1T was 2:44 when I looked at my
watch when we stopped"
How long did you stop2"
Less than a minute when we were
struck, and the air was not yet reteas-
ed"
Conductor Ford said further that he
heard the rumble of the oncoming train
and said something to his head brake
man, who had dropped off the front and
was near the rear when the train stop
ped.
what did you say?" asked the. coro-
ner.
Il don't know, 1 think, For Gods
sake, flag Them but he had not time to
do anything before the crash came
He said his train had left Junction City
at 10:15 and that his run was from Juno
tion to Kansas City, stopping only to pick
up stock. On this run he said he had
stopped at Manhattan Belvue, st. George
and St. Marys. The St. George stop was
to allow an extra to pass This extra con-
sisted of a light engine and caboose. He
knew that another extra was behind him,
but had heard nothing from them, and did
not know where they were.
He said there were "a cars in his train
and the engine was stopped at the regu-
crossing post and the CaDO0S6
therefore about 400 yards away, allowing
the average of SO feet to car. His tes-
rear brakeman. T. S. Mitchell. Mitchell
said he heard the engine coming q second
before the strike and was confident that it
was not running under steam, as he did
not hear the exhaust Of the engine.
John Hamerlund of St Marys, one Of
the passengers who was in the wrecked
cabOose at the time of the accident, said
charge of two car loads Of sheep. That
he had lain down on a seat. but was not
tinctly heard the whistle Of the engine of
No. Il. at the moment of stopping, but
preaching train. Another passenger. he
thought the one whose legs were cut Off
got up ana opened the rear door, JUST as
the headlight, but had no time to escape
when the crash came He was thrown
on top of the boiler. but wrenched himself
loose and fell backward onto the tender OF
the engine. He looked up and saw the
engineer pulling at a lever. and asked him
ii he was hurt. At the same instant he
saw injured man lying in the debris
near and pulled him out by the arm. A
fire caused by the smashing of the head
light. started, and he assisted the engineer
to -,ut it out
After half an hour deIiberation the jury
brought in the following verdict:
We the coroner's jury. find that A. L
McCandless and John Parks came to their
death by engine No 1903, running in the
rear of train No. IA. at the Rock Island
crossing on the Union Pacific railroad at
2:45 a. M on the morning of the It'll Of
Nav on the Union Pacific railroad. on ac-
count Of negligence Of the company. No
blame attached to train crew of No. Il, or
engine crew of engine 1868.
The jury consisted Of J. NJ. Holt. J. A.
Mathews G. D. Givens. E. E. Fisher l.
r cage and W. E. Stewart
Terrible plaques, those itching, poster
A.