The Iola register., 1902-01-10
THE TRAINS COLL|OtD
South Bound Santa Fe Passenger and
Missouri Pacific Extra Freight
Engine Meet-TwO Men Hurt.

South bound night passenger trair
on the Santa Fe, number 2O3, in charge
of conductor f. Il. Barnett, and an
extra Missouri Pacific "turn-around' .
engine number TIA, julius Nelson en-
gineer met Monday morning at the
switch leading to the north smelter Of
the Lanyon Zinc Company. Conduc-
tor Barnett had finger cut and dis
jointed and fireman A. E. Bailey, who
jumped from the Pacific engine, re-
ceived sprained ankle and severe
scalp wound. Both engines were in
jured but luckily the damage and hurts
were not extensive.
just how the accident happened will
probably only be explained In full
when the unlucky men concerned ap-
pear before the railroad officers to ex-
plain. The Pacific extra was u freight
train from Joplin, Mo-, loaded with
jack for the smelters. The crew had
been on duty for twenty-five hours and
naturally the men were very weary
and less spry and careful than usual.
Their engine, detached from the cars
was standing on the entrance to the
switch, the tender remaining out on the
Santa Fe track. Night passenger
number 203 came whisking down the
hill from the north at good speed.
The engineer had his eyeon the engine
ahead and slowed down even more
than he had already done for the
crossing a short dist.nce ahead. As
he watched the engine he saw lantern
swung, signalling as he thought for
him to come ahead. So he let his II ain
slide on down the track. AS a matter
of fact the signal was given by Pa
cilic engineer to pull ahead onto the
switch and off the main track. But
the Pacific engine crewwas busy watch
ing that on-coming Santa Fe train
and instead of pulling ahead, either
stood still or moved ahead too slowly
to get out of the way. Luckily the
speed of the Santa Fe train had been
reduced greatly for the engine smash
ed into the tender of the Pacific en-
gine. Both engines were injured too
much for service, but neither disabled
so it could not drag itself out of the
wreck. The Pacific engine pulled into
the siding and the Santa Fe engine
pulled down on the Missouri Pacific
Y. Another engine was telegraphed
for from Chanute and took 203 out
late.
When the engines came together A,
E. Bailey, fireman on the Pacific en-
gine jumped or fell from the engine.
He has no recollection as to what he
did. In fall he severely sprained
his ankle and received q hard blow on
the head which laid open his scalp. in
a long deep cash from one side to the
other. He was brought to town and
Drs. Teas and Clearinghouse dressed
his injuries. So stunned was he by
the blow and by his weariness that he
went to sleep while they were sewing
up his scalp. He was later taken to
the depot and taken east on the morn
ing Pacific train, and will receive
proper company care.
The only other man injured was
conductor f. E. Barnett of the Santa
Fe passenger. Heiwas standing on the
rear coach near the door when the un-
expected shock came and he was
thrown against the door. He put his
hand out to protect himself and the
shock shattered the glass in the door.
One of his fingers was cut and the fin
ger disjointed. The passengers on
the train were shaken up and consid-
erably scared by the sudden shock,
but were reassured by the train COM
ing to dead stop, and then the con-
ductor went through and told them
what had happened.
1t has been many years since any
thing like a serious wreck has hap
pened near lola and there is no reason
to wish a change.