Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-30
Joseph schreckengost Meets
instantaneous Death.
CAUGHT BETWEEN CARS
Night Yard Foreman at c., M. G. st. P.
Yards Instantly Killed While in the
Performances of His Duties-Draw
Bar smashes and Cars Crash. - =
fFrcm Tuesdays Daily.l

IFrom Tuesdays Daily.1
While making a coupling in the Mil
waukee yards last night Joseph
Schreckengost, night foreman in the
yards, was caught between two freight
cars and was instantly killed. The
draw bar on one of the cars broke as
they collided and the unfortunate
man was caught between them, his
head mashed at the base Of the brain.
Switchman W. |. Miller was but a car
length away when the sad accident
happened, and ran at once to Mr..
Schreckengost's assistance, only to
find that his death was instantaneous.
The authorities were at once notified
and Night Captain Peter Gallagher
and Henry Howell went at once with
the patrol wagon to the scene of the
accident, taking the body to the under
remains will be taken to Keosauqua
tomorrow afternoon for interment.
Caught Between the Cars.
The accident happened at $3.50
o'clock last night near the switch shan
ty in the yards. Three cars known to
the railroad men as bad Order Cars"
were being switched on the repair
track and Mr. Schreckengost attempt
ed to make the coupling with a car
loaded with coal, which was already
ON the track. AS the cars came to-
gether, the draft timber on the NOV
ing car was smashed and the draw bar
was thrown below the draw bar on
the coal car Mr. Schreckengost was
seen to jump back in crouching posi-
ton as the cars, unhindered by the
draw bars, crashed together. He was
unable, however, to escape, and his
head was caught between the corners
of the cars, crashing his head at the
base of the brain.
Death Was instantaneous.
w. 1. Miller and Henry Shrader,
watcAmen in the yards, and Mat Quill.
Ian, car inspector, witnessed the sad
accident and FASTENED to the scene of
the fatality. When they arrived, how
ever, they found that Mr.. Shrecken--
COST was dead. The men were horror
stricken at the suddenness of the ia
tai accident which had pefalIen their
late fellow worker, more especially as
he was helping them out at the time
the fatal accident occurred. Mr..
Shreckengost was night foreman, in
charge of the yards, and was volun--
tarily assisting his men when he was
so suddenly stricken down.
Car Was Damaged.
The car on which the draw bar was
broken was switched on the side track
for the purpose of having repairs
made. A tag was nailed on the side
stating that the car was in bad order
and that the car was to be set out on
account of broken timber bolts. This,
the railroad men say, weakened the
draft timbers. and when the car COL
lided with the heavy coal car the tim
bers were unable to stand the impact
of the blow. The end of the car was
smashed by the draw bar on the coal
car, and the draw bar on the broken
car was bent down until it passed I'M
der the bar on the other car, permit
ting the ends of the cars to crash to-
gether.
Skull Was Crushed.
The victim of the unfortunate acct
dent had no marks whatever on his
body. but the upper part of his head
was badly bruised and the skull was
crushed just above the ears. 1t is evil
dent that he made hard effort to
throw himself from between the cars.
as he was seen to jump back as the
cars crashed. Had the cars been trav-
cling at slower rate of speed it is
thought certain that his life would
have been saved, as he would have
cleared the cars in a fraction of a sec
ond later.
Resided Here Two Years.
The deceased was SO years of age
and is survived by wife and six
young children. He came to this city
two years ago from Chillicothe, Mo-,
where he was employed by the Milwau-
kee company, and was employed as
night switchman in the yards when he
first came here. BY his fidelity and
his close attention to duties he was
soon raised to extra night foreman,
and about two months ago was given
the position of night yard foreman,
which position he filled with good sat
isfaction until he met with his untime.
ly DEATH
Was a Faithful EmpIoye.
He was employed but four months
in Chilicothe, before coming to this
city, having previously been employed
for seven years in the Rock Island
yards at Eldon. Mr.. Schrecken-
COST was recognized as trusted en-
ploye, faithful in the discharge of his
duties, and ever working for the best
interests of his employers. His mum
berless friends among the railroad
men are deeply shocked at his sad
DEATH
Will Be Buried at keosauqua.
The news of the fatality came as a
shock to the wife and family OF the de-
ceased and they are horror stricken
over the suddenness of the tragic
death of their late husband and faith.
er. The remains will be taken tomor-
row afternoon on the Rock Island to
the former home OF the, deceased al
7 fssosauqua, where the: funeral viii be
held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock,
and tho last sad riteS prononnled owe,