The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-20
SCALDED
TO DEATH
Hunter G. Myers Killed in
Rock Island Wreck at Caldwell
AWAY
RAN
And Crashed Into North-Bound
Passenger Train

Hunter G. Myers. .son-in-law of Rev. ].
S. McClung, of $40 South Topeka, was
scalded to death in the wreck Of the Rock
Island train at Caldwell. shortly after IL
o'clock yesterday morning. Mr. Myers
was the postal clerk, and lived three
hours after the accident, dying in the
Caldwell depot Wilbur Burkett, son of
q Caldwell merchant was also killed, and
young man named Giles was seriously
injured. Eight or ten passengers were
injured by flying glass. A. w. StillweII,
of this city, was injured about the hip,
but not seriously.
The wreck occurred about a mile south
of the Caldwell yards. One of the
freight engines standing in the yards
ran away. The hostler went into the de-
pot for orders. leaving his engine on the
main track, when the monster began
moving southwark and backing. Before
anyone could reach the big machine it
had gained such speed that none could
jump it. 1t is not known what started
the engine. 1t was reported that some
one was foOling with the machinery, and
was unable to stop il after the engine
started. By others it is said that the
throttle became disconnected thus giving
he engine a full head Of steam, and this
seems the most plausible theory, as the
engine gained speed at every revolution
Of the wheels.
Train g. local passenger, due here at
LBS, was due in Caldwell shortly after
II o'clock. The wild engine was going
south as fast as steam could carry it
until it was south of the high bridge, one
mile south of the city. As the engine
crossed the bridge the crew of the pas
senger train saw it, but too late TO avoid
an accident. The engineer reversed his
engine to save the passengers the shock
from the collision and both he and the
fireman jumped. Engineer Fitzgerald was
uninJured. but the fireman, Lum Hall,
suffered several bruises.
The two engines, tenders and the mail
and baggage cars left the track. The en-
CINE of the passenger train was forced
back into the express car, telescoping it
and the scalding water and steam escap-
ing from bursting pipes was thrown over
the mail clerk and causing his death.
Young Burkett and Giles were on the
blind baggage and were buried under the
wreck. Burkett was dead when the
wrecI1er removed the timbers and twisted
iron and steel.
Caldwell people gave all possible aid TO
the injured, and helped in clearing away
the wreck, that those buried under it
could be relieved if such We're possible 1
Physicians were soon on the ground, and /
the wounded We're given proper care, and !
most of them were able to continue their |
journey when another train was made
up and sent through five hours late.
The wreck train from Harrington was
sent to the scene and cleared the track.
The traffic was restored within a few
hours after the wreck.
Hunter G. Myers is one of the best
known mail clerks in this city. He was
born in Masilion, Ia, April 20, 1866, and
came to Augusta while only a boy and
lived in Butler and Sedgwick counties
during his youth and early manhood.
About ten years ago he came TO Wichita
and later went into The railway mail SER
vice, securing his permanent appoint
ment on January 10 1894. and for q num-
Der of years lived in Wichita. He mar
ried the eldest daughter of Rev. J. 5.
McClung, a retired Presbyterian minister,
a few years ago. He has had the Kan
sas City-Enid run for a number of years,
and since his appointment to that run has
made his home in Kansas City, Kan.
a W. StnlWeiiY travelling freight agent
of the Santa Fe, was on the train. He
was painfully injured about the hip. He
was taken TO Wellington and later
brought TO his home in this city.
Mrs. Lewis Bartholomew was injured
about the head by flying glass. Her home
is in Enid. and she was coming to this
city to visit her husband. She lost her
pocketbook in the smash-up, and the Rock
Island officials sent her to this city. She
arrived here penniless and her husband
was not at the depot to meet her. She
does not know his address. Or. Oldham
had her sent to the Wichita hospital.
Lewis -Bartholomey is a small man,
slim face. small black moustach, grey
eyes, and is a loud talker. The police
tried TO find him, but so far have been
unable TO do so. He is supposed to be
working about town.