Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-28
TRAIN GREW IS
LOST N STORM:
WRECK RESULTS
Great Western Freight Train
Wrecked Near Melbourne
In Binding Storm
SIX TRAINMEN RECEIVE INJURIES
Section Hand Pinned Down With Tim
Der Driven Thru His Leg-"charley"
Bach, the Conductor, Formerly OF
This City, Among the Injured-Crew
Got Lost in Trying to Find Rear
Section of the Train.
SIX TRAINMEN RECEIVE INJURIES

A bad railroad wreck, the result OF
the train crew becoming lost in the
severe blizzard, occurred on the Chi
cago Great Western at point one and
three quarters miles south of Mel
bourne Tuesday afternoon. The acct
dent might easily have resulted in sew
eral fatalities, but fortune favored the
trainmen, even under the adverse
weather conditions and the fact that
injured is considered seriously hurt.
The accident was to an extra north
bound freight, in charge of Conductor
Charles Bach, of Des Moines, formerly
Of this city, and for many years a well
known Iowa Central trainman. The
train was proceeding northward from
Baxter and with the tonnage being
hauled it was found impossible to
make Melbourne thru the immense
snow drifts that were being encounter
ed at short intervals. 1t was decided by
Conductor Bach that the only way his
train could reach Melbourne would be
to divide it and take the head end into
the station, nearly two miles away and
then return for the remaining section.
This was done, but in returning for the
remaining cars the distance was mis-
judged, owing to the binding storm,
and the engine smashed into the string
of cars left standing on the track. The
impact resulted in the demolition OF
four of the cars, which were telescoped
and thrown off the track. The engine
cab was badly shattered, and the tank
was pretty we'll twisted out of shape.
In Just what condition the engine will
be found, however, is as yet unknown,
for SO much snow drifted in about the
locomotive that it was almost CONF
pletely covered from view.
Six Sustain injuries.
When the crew reached Melbourne
with the first section Of the train the
assistance Of section men was solicit
ed. in order to shovel the drifted snow.
The Great Western section foreman
could not be found at the time, and
William Boyer, section foreman OF the
Milwaukee, volunteered his services
and accompanied the crew, together
with Charles Foster, a Great Western
section employee. These two men, to-
gether with Engineer A. H. Donnel-
son. of Des Moines; Conductor Bach,
the fireman and a brakeman, were
more or less seriously injured.
The probabilities are that Boger's in
iuries will prove the most serious, al
tho his condition is as yet not at all criti-
CAL Boyer was struck by a flying timber
an inch in diameter which penetrated his
leg. being driven entirely thru the calf,
about three inches below the knee. He
was lost from the others for some
time. and for an hour and half after
his whereabouts were discovered, 1t
was impossible to rescue him. Boyer
was pinned down by coal, and the tim
Der that was forced thru his leg, but
was lying so near to the boiler that he
did not suffer from exposure. Had he
been pinned down at some point dis
tant from the warm engine the proba-
bilities are that he would have frozen
to death before his rescue was pos
sible.
The only other injury that is consid-
cred at all serious was that to Engineer
Donnelson, who sustained compound
fracture of the right leg, just below the
knee. Donnelson was also badly bruis-
ed about the body. Conductor Bach's
injuries are not serious, regardless of
the fact that the early reports received
here were to the effect that he was
fatally injured. Bach received a bad
bruise on his left elbow, and one leg
was quite badly bruised.
Foster, the other section hand, is not
seriously hurt, altho he sustained bad
bruises about the right leg. The brake
man received bruises about the head
and face, and the fireman had his
face quite badly frozen, while walking
from the wreck to Melbourne, to Sc
cure assistance.
Injured Cared For.
DIR. e. A. Hunt, the company sur
geon at Melbourne, was taken to the
scene OF the wreck as soon as possible,
but owing to the storm it was nearly
three hours after the wreck occurred
before he could be notified and got to
the scene. The injuries of the train
men were dressed, and all were left
in the caboose, where they remained
during the night, 1t being impossible
to get them even to Melbourne
Wrecking Train Stuck.
The wrecking train that was sum-
moned from Des Moines to clear the
track got stuck in an immense snow
drift two miles south of the wreck, near
the Jacob Waltemeyer farm, and 1t was
late today before the work Of clear
ing the track could be begun.
The injured men were kept in the
way car all day, and as soon as trains
are able to move those belonging in
Des Moines will be moved to their
homes. 1t was expected the wreck
would be cleared this afternoon, altho
4 switch engine which left from here
to go to Melbourne at | o'clock this
afternoon and had reached Luray at
o'clock. 1t is reported the snow lies
in drifts ten feet deep in places.