The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-18
WRECK ON THE OMAHA.
Freight Train Goes Bump at Worth
ington.-.Narrow Escapes.
From Tuesdays Daily.

rum AuSSudy AdLy.
On Saturday morning a bad wreck oc-
Cured on the Omaha road near Worth
ington. The Advance of Saturday gives
the following details:
The Omaha road suffered badly with
wash outs, having one two miles west of
Prairie Junction and a serious one two
miles west of Worthington. The Advance
man walked out to the last. named
about one o'clock in the morning; it was
sight well worth the walk even though
it was not daylight. At this point there
were two embankments for two tracks
eighteen feet or more high and about
thirty rods long, with space about
one hundred feet washed out at point
of the bank where it must have been at
least twenty feet high. 1t is supposed
the grade formed a dam for the water
coming down the ravines which drains
miles of territory, until it overfiowed the
tracks and then cut out the fill. The APP
pearance of the large extent of ground
covered by rapid running water indi-
Gates this theory. Train No. 90 Conduc-
tor Harris and Engineer Riley, accom-
panied by travelling engineer, William
Donahue. reached this point about 1925.
This is fast freight and they were run
ming at pretty good speed.
They had nineteen cars in the train.
The engine passed over one washout all
right but the other was too serious. The
engineer Jumped but the others, Fireman
Trefferv. Brakemen Goodno and Dona-
hue did not have time and went down
with the engine. How they escaped
death is miracle. Mr.. Donahue was
scalded some about the body. the others
were bruised some, but able to crawl
out of the wreck The engineer went
down head first and tipped nearly over
her onto side 1t was one of the large
engines. No. 264 Behind the engines
one car on its side. When the train
stopped one car and caboose were over
the first washout which had scarcely be-
gun, and was not very serious. COnduc-
tor Harris was told he had better
put on his rubber boots but about this
time the track gave way, the caboose and
one car breaking loose from the other
portion of the train. The rear brake
mans name was Conway. Conductor
Harris says he did not strike any of the
storm until this side of Bigelow.
The caboose fioated about 40 feet from
where the track originally Stood and one
car of grain was overturned and the
roof broke, allowing the grain to spill.
Conductor Harris was just about to
leave the caboOse when the second wash
out occurred and he had to jump for it.
He landed in water above his waist and
then went into his car and secured his
grip and his orders and reports.
\ car of hogs which were about the
middle of the train. were uninjured, and
were alive and granting at ? a. M, when
a reporter had climbed over the wreck.
1t was fortunate that no hoboes were
riding in between the cars, as many of
the drawbars were smashed together and
several cars were derailed
Where the engine is, the main track
lies down the bank and is nearly wash
ed out, and the Sioux Falls line track
was forced over to the place of the for
mer. The rails are bent and pulled
apart. permitted by bolts breaking.
The bridge and section men were inn
mediately called. but We're unable to do
anything. except. get material to take
out at daylight.
A temporary track is being built
around the wreck.