Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1903-12-31
THE SECOND FATALITY

THE SECOND FATALITY.
The second fatality OF Thursdays
Wabash wreck occurred at the Wind
sor Hotel Friday morning, at 8 O'Clock
when Geo. W. Blodgett died of acute
pneumonia, contracted during the
time he was under the wreckage, being
pinned under one Of the engine tanks
and in water, until released by the
rescuers.l Blodgett was brought to this
city and was cared for at the Windsor
by the Odd Fellows, OF which order be
was a member. The best attention
was rendered him but to no avail and
he sunk rapidly after the first symp-
toms OF pneumonia made It's appear
ance.
Blodgett was twenty-one years Of
age, had recently been honorably dis
charged from the regular army, pos
sessed gold watch and had some
money. Recently he had been ap-
pointed q member of the Jefferson
Guards, the Worlds Fair police organi-
zation, and In an endeavor TO save
some money, was beating his way to
st. Louis. Besides a father and mother
be leaves four brothers and sisters at
Bussey, Iowa, where bis remains we're
shipped Friday night in charge Of A.
J. Winscott, OF the local order OF Odd
Fellows.
Engineer Tom Whitten's remains
were recovered from the wreckage
about five O'Clock Thursday afternoon.
In all probability his death was in
Simultaneous yet his body was not In
the mangle1 condition that II was ex-
pected to be found. After the coroners
inquest held In this city the remains
were taken to Moberly. In special
dispatch to the Republic the Moberly
correspondent says:
"Thomas Whitten, the Wabash
engineer, who was killed in the wreck
near Mexico Thursday, lived In this
city Ha leaves a widow and two snns-
A peculiar fatality seems TO pursue
West Coates street, on which be lives,
Within the last nine months five
railroad men residing In the 600 block
on the street have been killed on the
road"
@. r. Lamont, the other injured
man who was riding the 'blind" was
taken to the Wabash hospital at
Moberly where, 1T is said, his left leg
was amputated Thursday. Lamont
was cook by trade and was without
|, i1.i;ss d.st.s. 1hiie obligated in no way 1t
is likely that the waSss.si. will. take
care of him after his unfortunate acci'
| dent.
The track had been cleared Of the
wreckage at $50 Thursday afternoon
sufficiently for the passage Of trains
The wreck represented a vast loss to
the Wabash but was remarkable in SC
few fatalities, as the passenger train
| was well filled with passengers, not a
one of whom was even slightly injured
''oF HIS OWN POSITIVE MISTAKE"
1--WE the jury find that Thomas r
Whitten came to his death In the
Wabash wreck east OF Mexico, of bis
own positive mistake.
"V. f. MORRIS,
Foreman,
'R. S. MCKINNEY
IN. ii. KEMP
"W. b. CANTERBuRY
John WALKER
geo. ii. PECK"
A coroner's jury was impaneled by
Coroner G. T. Varnon Thursday even.
ing and after viewing the remains OF
the dead engineer at the depot in this
city the jury adjourned until Satur.
day morning and the body was taken
to bis former home in Moberly. Satur-
day morning the jury convened at
Coroner Varnon's Office and after hear
ing the evidence of the train crew OF
the freight, brought in the above YER
dict.
The evidence showed that freight
train No. 81 had orders to take siding
at Martinsburg and allow freight train
No. 90 and passenger trains Nos. 4
and IA to pass. During the hour and
thirty minutes wait at Martinsburg
all of the crew, thoroughly tired,
dropped to sleep, Engineer Whitten
sleeping exceptionally sound. After
passenger train No. 4 bad passed the
crew awoke and this train being on
fourteen's time they naturally sup
posed it was No. IA passenger train.
Engineer Whitten consequently
started TO pull out. Conductor Nc
Allister sent his head brakeman,
Daniels, to the front end to enquire II
WhItten was sure that No. IA had
passed. ado you think that would
pull out II il had not,' replied the
engineer. Brakeman Daniels thus
assured opened the switch and they
pulled onto the main track. Fireman
o. S. Hunter in his testimony was also
equally sure that three trains had
passed, thus leaving their train
clearance to Mexico. Conductor Nc
Allister thus assured gave the "high
balln after the rear brakeman had
closed the switch.
The trains were but about ten car
lengths apart when the freight crew
realized their awful mistake. Brake
man Daniel left his seat and pulling
fireman Hunter with him leaped for
life. whitten had shut of bis air
brakes and In doing so met his death,
As the collision was too near for him
To escape after this effort
The evidence was rendered BY Con-
ductor VIM. McAllister, bead brake.
man, Jas. @. Daniel and fireman. o. S.
Hunter, each Of Moberiy.