Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-14
OPERATOR CAUSE
Of A BAD WRECK
Giving of a Wrong Order Re-
suits In Collision and Three
Deaths
TWO ENGINEERS ARE KILLED
Terrible Accident on the Milwaukee
Near AdeI Causes Loss of Life and
Property-Desperate Efforts to Re-
call ora.rs Were of No Avail
Details Of Accident.
pecial 10 Times Republican.


Adel. Dec. l4.-Owing to the fact that
Operator d. w. Sleater of the Chicago,
Milwaukee 6; St. Paul railroad at Give,
issued a clearance card instead of a
meteing order to conductor two extra
freight trains came together in head
on collision, two miles east of here at
3:40 o'clock Sunday morning, killing
three men and injuring five.
Dead.
Oscar w Dyer. fireman, east bound
train, Des Moines.
Frank Finnicum, engineer, west
bound train, Des Moines, Des Moines.
Walter Ward, engineer east bound
train, Des Moines.
The Injured.
H II. Bellman. brakeman west bound
train, Des Moihes; scalded and bruis-
ed.
George Chambers, engineer, west
bound train, Des Moines; head bruis-
ed.
Fields. brakeman. east bound train.
Des Moines; cut about head.
John S. Flynn, conductor west
bound train Des Moines; back hurt.
S. c. Richey, conductor east bound
train. Des Moines; slightly bruised.
The Wreck took place in deep cut
at a point known as Graham's crossing.
The west bound train was double
header. Both trains were running
nearly forty miles an hour. and crashed
together with only a moments warning
>ha nf fhp
three engines Is complete and they are
only fit for scrap iron. Fourteen cars
also were demolished. The two cars
next to the engine Of the east bound
train we're filed with hogs and all were
killed or crippled.
Engineer Flnnicum, engine As. must
have discovered the approach of the
west at a poin; about $50 fl. from where
his body lay. San was found on the
track where he probably reversed his
engine and at which point he jumped,
and would have no doubt escaped had
he not struck whistling post with
his head with sufficient force to crush
his skull
The crew of the east bound train,
Brakeman Fields says. were not aware
OF the danger until the trains coliided.
II is reported that Operator Give and
the dispatcher at Des Moines. discover
ed that an error had been made in the
orders and endeavored to raise Waukee
by telephone and telegraph. but did
not do so in time to head off the wesl
bound train. Then they tried the Ade!
office. and lost the blocking of the east
bound train by only one minute.
The details of the awful disaster were
brought to Adel by Conductor Ritchie
who walked as best he could. But ne
merely confirmed the racking. tortur-
ing fears of the operator at Adel who
felt so certain Of the fate OF the TWO
trains, that he had already reused the
doctors and surgeons at Adel. A res
cue party was soon formed and assist
ance was given the injured with all
possible dispatch.
Wrecking trains arrived from Des
Motnes yesterday morning few hours
after the accident. and the track was
cleared for traffic. Strangely enough
the track Itself was little damaged and
none Of the rails were torn from the
ties.
Great crowds OF people viewed the
wreck Sunday coming from many
miles around. Two of the curious spec
tators who crowded too closely upon
the workmen in violation of the orders
of the superintendent were badly IN
iured by the breaking of one of the
tackles and ropes. As the tackle gave
way, the rope and heavy block rolled
into the crowd, striking Frank Hodge
a farmer and breaking two bones OF
his right leg. and Dick Oxley. bus
mess man, who suffered a fracture of
one of the bones of his left leg. Hodge
lives several miles northwest of Adei
and is badly injured. Oxley is the man
ager of cooperative store northwest
OF Adel and is not SO seriously injured.
Coroner II. p. Lods. of Perry. was
called to the scene of the accident and
a Jury will investigate the causes lead
ing thereto.