Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-17
TRAINS CRASH AT. PENNock
Continued from first page.

l
disrobed, as they had retired, ard
with bare feet were exposed to the Bit
tor cold. It was no time to think of
anything else but the saving OF hu-
man lives, but articles OF covering
we're soon brought and all were re-
moved to warm quarters In the other
coaches. Among the losses of perso-
nal effects reported was that Of q |
gentleman passenger, who claimed
that he parted with s40O in cash. The
wounded had all been removed to a
tourist car, where surgical assistance
was rendered and all were made to
feel as comfortable as possible, until
the start was made for Willmar. The
coast train proceeded on it's journey
for the west about three O'Clock, minus
the burned sleeper. Mr.. Jarret of
Pennock was among the first to reach
the scene and offer assistance. Much
praise is given Mr.. Segerstrom for
the heroic work he performed In car
ing for the helpless passengers, and
it was through his promptness that
several were rescued. Brakeman
Wilson is given the credit for saving
the travelling men in the oaboose from
crem alton, while Brakeman Miller of
the passenger crew rendered valuable
assistance in making escape possible
for those in the sleeper.
Besides the sleeping Car and Ca
boose freight car loaded with mer.
chandise, which was next to the ca
boose,. was also destroyed by FIRE.
As q result Of the collision this car
was knocked Off the track and stood
at right angles with the caboose.
The latter had been reduced to kind
ling wood, and the James made quick
work in completing the destruction of
both cars, Is we'll as the sleeper.
The passenger train which was re-
sponsible for the terrible accident was
in charge of Conductor J. p. Deva-
ney, who has the reputation of being
one of the best conductors in the SER
vice of the Great Northern, and last
Thursday nights affair has led to
more or less censure for the lack of
precaution taken by him while back.
ing up the train as he did. Engineer
George P. Irwin was at the throttle
and Harry A. Miller was the brake
m an. According to. the evidence
given before the coroner's jury by the
train crew last Saturday afternoon,
Brakeman Miller had been unable to
reach the rear end of the train in time
to notice any impending danger and
to accordingly give the proper signal
for stopping and avo:dlng an acct
dent. While it was claimed that the
speed was not over twelve miles an
hour, yet there was much difficulty ex-
perienced by the brakeman in trying
to reach the rear platform OF the las,
car on account of locked doors, etc
Escaping steam from the engine was
; given as q reason for the crew being
unable to see the switch light ai1d al
80 the red light on the caboose before
it was too late.
The freight crew was composed o.
Conductor M. J. Rohan, Engineer
Charles Radeke and three brakemen
as follows: VIM. Mullen, head end
, G. L. Demoree, middle, and c. D.
Wilson, rear end. The freight wa.
known as No. 256, q local, and was
{ east bound.
: A jury for the coroner's inquest wal
: impaneled on Friday morning. Th'
following citizens were called upon t.
serve as jurors: J. L. Lindner, Theo
Linn, L. M. Crosby, w. T. Markhus
q. c. Ward, W. A. Lindquist. Dur
ing the afternoon the jury listened tt
. evidence given by all the members o
: the freight train crew with the excep
q tion Of the rear end brakeman, Mr.
t Wilson, who had gone to Brecken
ridge, but who appeared before tn
.. jury the following day, when the testi
. mony of the passenger train crew wa
q taken. MIR. Wilson testified to hav
ing placed a red light in the caboos
cupola and was there at the time of tn
Q collision. 1t was due to this lofty 10
= cation that he escaped as he did.
e The jury after listening to the evi
9 dence the greater part of the after
= noon on SATURDAY.. returned q verdic
in the evening that there had been
lack of proper precaution on the par
Of the train crew on No. 3.
William n. Hill was one of the old
i est travelling men on the road and wa
" among the best known throughout thi
territory. He was we'll known in thi
|, city and many OF our merchants wer
q among the customers for the whole
sale house which he represented. H
D had Travelled out of Minneapolis TO
t 81 years and was deservedly popula
among alfhis acquaintance. His EN-
ployers held him in the highest esteer
and with travellers and Shriner
= among whom he counted hosts q
+ friends he stood high. For nearl
r his whole married life of over twenty
two years Mr.. Hill lived at 1926 FRS
ave s. where widow and two child
r dren, Ruth, aged 10, and Clarence
aged II, are left to mourn.