The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1905-07-20
DEATH LIST NOW
NUMBERS -FOUR
ENnlNmEA WILLIAMS eUccuMnu
no t4ls INJURIES.
TIVE o. the bodies Burned 70 Aahes
--oll and Coal Cause Terrible
Blase--Funerai Arrange.
nnentn.

Inc lotPr uetallA OF the IOWA Zen.
trial wreck that occurred west of Rich.
hind In Kcokuk county, Friday after.
noon. do not add materially 70 the ter
eggapAlo report published IN that nv
ening's Herald. The death list was
increased 70 four by the passing away
OF Engineer @. X. Williams. The man
was frightfuliy scalded about the
head, face and neck, and was injured
about the body. Great patches Of the
skin had slipped from the face ana
neck. He was taken TO Richland,
where everything possible was done
for the man. lie called for his wife,
and tho lady made preparations to go,
but before she was started message
came, telling Of his death.
The bodies Of Brakeman Sam Wool.
sey and Fireman Will West arrived
in the city about six-thirty o'clock and
were delivered into the hands OF Cor.
oner Chas. Foehlinger, OF this city.
The bodies were brought as they were
taken from the wreck. Both had
been practically cremated, few char
red bones and cooked flesh alone re-
naming for Identification. West was
identified by the length Of his leg, one
Of which was not burned, and by u
shoe he was wearing. Only a portion
OF the trunk Of Woolsey remained.
Head and limbs had been entirely con-
sumed. The bodies Of the other two
victims, Engineers Jesse v. Long and
Carl X. williams, arrived at two-thirty
this morning on a special train. They
were received by Undertaken McCurdy
and removed to the morgue for prep
aration. The bodies had been care
fully prepared by the undertakers at
Richland and good work had been
done.
Il had been impossible to get at the
bodies of woolsey and West to rescue
them from the first, as the heat was
so intense that no one could stand II.
The car Of oil that followed the en-
gInes poured It's contents over the
wreck and Immediately great voi-
ume OF fame shot up. Two cars or
slack followed the tank or oil and the
contents were piled up over the oil
and Immediately took FIRE, making q
veritable blast furnace. The two un.
fortunates were under this pile OF ftiei
and flame and there was no help for
them. They could not be reached un.
III tine FIRE had partly burned itself
out and had been partly put out by
the work OF the trainmen and others
brought to the scene. The wreck was
in deep gully formed by Richland
creek, with high banks surrounding
and in the midst Of a wooded place.
The workers were themselves almost
roasted. II the two unfortunates were
not killed by the overturning OF the
engines they did nor live long after.
wards.
The cause OF the wreck may never
be known. The tender trucks OF en-
CINE No. 100, which was in the lead,
left the rails on o curve, and tho en-
tire engine was derailed. Engine NO.
105, which was second, followed. The
engines careened and plunged along
the track for short distance, struck
the bridge and embankment anu
plunged down the gully. The bridge
was consumed by the fire that fol.
lowed.
The Deceased.
All Of the deceased men we're resi-
dents OF this city and all we're well
and favorably known and had been in
the employ Of the Iowa Central com
pany number OF years.
Jesse v. Long was one OF the best
known and best liked engineers on
the line Of the Central. He was q
man under forty years OF age, and
leaves n widow, one son, Jesse Jr,
who was In this city, and two daugh.
tiers, who reside at Glenwood.
Will West, the unfortunate fireman,
has been In the employ OF the compa-
ny since he was O mere lad. He was
peanut boy on the passenger years
ago. He leaves q young wife and one
child
G. X. williams was one OF the old
and trusted engineers OF the road. he
was possibly fifty years OF age, and
has been with the Central number
Of years. He leaves a wife and two
children.
Sam woolsey, the head brakeman,
was riding in the cab OF the engine,
No. los, at the time OF the accident.
lie had no chance or getting away.
Sam was well known trainman OF
the road and had been working for
the company q number OF years He
leaves a wife and four children.
McMahon's story.
Fireman Mcmahon, the only one or
the engine crews to escape the awful
fate OF the others, was firing for En-
gineer Jesse Long when the tragedy
occurred. Said Mr.. Mcmahon this
morning: I'VE were rounding the
curve about mile and a half from
and were about Afty yards
from tho bridge when, looking forward
from the left side OF tho cab, ] saw
the pony-trucks we're bound, and that
they were about to leave the track. !