Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-17
TRAINS CRASH at PENNOCK

Results in / errlble1
:e Men Killed.
what apparatus. there was on hand
and the work of saving the inmates
was pushed with all possible speed.
BY the prompt action of the train crew
and passengers, who had all directed
their attention to the sleeper, from
which flames we're pouring out from
all sides, those In the berths were res.
cued and removed to the other coach
es. Blankets and quilts were secured
to protect those who had disrobed,
some OF whom lost all OF their CLOTH
ing as we'll as their personal effects.
Among those engaged in the work
OF rescuing the passengers from the
sleeping car was Fred w. Segerstrom
Of this city, who was enroute to Kerk-
hoven and was riding In the second Car
from the sleeper. Mr.. Segerstrom did
heroic work in rescuing three women
and four men from the burning sleep-
er and remained on the scene all
through the night in assisting and
helping care for the injured who had
been taken from the caboose. Willing
hands rendered what assistance could
be given the sufferers until medical
aid arrived.
A dispatch was sent to Willmar for
help and the special train bearing the
company's surgeons, Drs. E. S. and
Harold Frost, arrived in the early
morning. The injured were taken on
board and brought to this city for
treatment st the Frost hospital. The
wrecking tr ain left for the scene about
l:50 q m.
Mr.. Hanscom succumbed to his in.
juries about 40 minutes after the scci-
dent. The remains were taken here,
together with the other ul-fated travel
ers, who were cared for by the Drs.
Frost at their hospital. MIR. Hill was
unable to pass through the operation
upon his leg, it being found necessary
to amputate it below the knee. He ex-
pired about 4:3O o o'clock. Mr.. Heifner
was the third victim to pass away,
and before six O'Clock three OF the
four who were 90 severely injured lay
cold in death.
I, The remains Of William Hill ,Ands
Edgar Heifner were removed to the
undertaking rooms of the Fred w.
Segerstrom Supply Co., where they
were prepared for burial by Andrew
Peterson, while the body of Clarence
aausoome had been taken to the I. c.
Olson undertaking establishment.
A. J. Sethney, who luckily escaped
injuries that proved fatal, was given
prompt after tion at the hospital and
at this writing is reported as doing
nicely.
The sad news OF the accident was
soon dashed over the wires and the
families and relatives of the unfort-
unates were apprised of the calamity
that had befallen them. In response
to the messages orders were received
here before Friday noon as to the dis
posal of the remains of Messrs. Hill
and Heifner. They were prepared for
shipment and forwarded to their
homes at Minneapolis on the after
noon train. MIR. Heifner's son, L. E.
Heifner, arrived here from Mlnnea-
polls on the morning freight and &C.
companied the remains of his father
to their destination. The remains oi
| Mr.. Hanscome were forwarded to St.
Peter the following day. W. 81.
Mueller, an old friend Of the deceased,
came up from that city and made the
necessary arrangements for shipping
the body, accompanying the remsint
on the afternoon train.
Mr.. sethney, In speaking OF the &C.
cident, said: It must have been some
after ten whom the crash came. W.
were all four in the caboose at thl
time. We had side-tracked to allow
No. TO pass through and were still
on the side track when che backed In
to us. The switch had been turned
preparatory to going. on the mai1
track and making the start for Will
mar. AS far 40 knew there WAS NJ
brakeman outside At the rear end o
either of the two trains. The trail
must have been coming at gooi
speed, for the crash was terrific
The caboose was broken into splint
ers. I managed to extrfcate mysel
and climbed out on top OF the sleeper
Was in . dszed condition and wand
cred about until was picked up. I
was = miraculous escape for all of u
from almost instant death. I va
quite badly injured, but did not far
! 40 badly a. the other three fellow pas
sengers. We were Ill suffering NOR
or less from turns in addition to ou
other injuries. All our baggage IN.
most of our personal effects were lost
i A, L. Undine, of Minneapolis,
representative of the Superior Manu-
featuring Co., was an intimate frien'
of Mr.. Heifner. He was : psssenge
a. -