The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-12-24
AETERMATHDF WRECK
Iowa Central Employees Narrow
Escapes at Searsboro.

The, wreck on, the Iowa Central on
Sunday evening left things In the
Operating department "at skies and
seyepssS It was after midday Mon
day before the tangle that was occa
stoned by the wreck could be straight
ened out. Regular passenger No. p
which was north of the wreck,d did not
get into the city until after eleven
o'clock. The train was turned around
at this station and sent back as No. l.
The run south to Abba and return
had been made by special crew be-
fore the. regular train arrived. But
one available train crew was left in
the city Monday morning. This crew
consisting Of Engineer John McEl-
roy, fireman, Ed McElroy's brother,
Conductor White and Trainmen Rob
bins and Hall, had been called for
other service, but q coach and way
car, combination baggage and mail
car were picked up in the yards mere
and sent south as No. 2 about seven
o'clock. This special train went to
Abba and picked up the Wabash part
OF the regular train, got the heavy
express and mail and returned to Os-
kaioosa as No. 1. This is how the
work Of the regular happened to be
completed when the train arrived in
this city.
Passenger train No. was behind
No. 2, and then followed No. 4,which
was but little delayed. The sched-
liles are all Strengthened out now and
things are smooth again.
The men injured in the wreck are
all doing very nicely and the injuries
in some cases though severe are not
SO bad as at first feared.
Conductor Geo. Alexander, of the
third section of No. SO, who was
thought to be very badly hurt, was
brought to this city about ten o'clock
Monday morning. He was pretty
sore. ali over and considerably bruised
up but was able to move around. He
went to his home in Abba about
noon and will take lay-off for few
days. He may have couple OF
cracked ribs in addition to the num-
erous bumps and bruises. Mr.. AL
exander was in the way car when the
crash came and he was buried in the
debris and the kindling wood that
was made of the car. The wrsckage
Immediately took fire and some hard
and rapid work was resorted to by
the trainmen in order to save the
man from burning.
Fireman Chancey Mofitt of the en-
gfne, No. 73 was probably the most
severely injured of any of the men.
he is terribly burned about the face.
Mofitt was standing in the tender
when the crash came The engineer
and head brakeman, who was riding
IN the cab, tumgled out of either
window when they saw what was to
happen. Mofitt did not have a
chance to get away and was in the
engine when the collision occurred.
He was thrown up against the boiler
and the jar of the collision forced
open the door of the fire box. Moi
hit was thrown in such a manner
that his face was almost at the open
door. The concussion forced the
flames and the heat from the door
and directly upon Months head and
face. 1t was ike being in a blast fur
mace. Moffitt's head was frigh.euily
burned. His cap was burned away
and his hair and eyebrows removed.
The coat was burned away from his
chest and shoulders. The lips and
parts of his face are literally cooked.
He is the worst hurt of any of the
men.
Engineer Ike Steddom, running No.
80, states that they were fairly into
the way car before they could see
what was to happen. He had Just
time to apply the air and fall out of
the window. He sustained some bad
cuts and bruises but will be as good
as new in a short time. Mr.. Sted-
dom considers that he came off very
easy considering the nature of the
wreck.
Sam Higlin, fireman, in some man.
ner got finger badly jammed and
mashed in the jar that was caused.
He thought the bone was injured but
the wounded member was carefully
dressed and showed no fracture of
the bones.
( Brakeman Holiday, who was riding
on the 73, fell out Of the left hand
side of the cab. He received con-
siderable number of hurts and bruises
when he struck the ground and is
'isore all over"
d -. .
All of the injured are reported do
ing nicely today, and the length Of
the lay-off will not be great in any
case.
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NEEDI Eec AMoppv