Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-30
DETAILS OF WRECK
Crash on Rock Island at Iowa
City Occurred on High
Bank.
PASSENGER HAD STOPPED
Jumping Saved Lives of Engineer and
Fireman - Engine Demol-
ished

Traffic on the main line of the Rock
Island system was blocked for hours
yesterday afternoon by the head-ou
collision at Iowa City The trains
came together at a high embankmenS
in the western part of the city.
Engine No 476, which was drawing
the passenger train. was smashed to
smithereens, and engine No. 1411.
which was pulling the freight. was bad
ly smashed and partly telescoped. The
front emf of the baggage car of the
passenger train was wrecked and part
of the contents of the car were de-
stroyed. Three freight cars loaded
with grain were derailed and one of
them was totally wrecked and the oats
which il contained were scattered over
the track.
Engineer Talks.
According TO Engineer Frank Hodgen
of the passenger, he left Iowa City at
12:15:30, just one-half a minute late.
When seen Immediately after the col
lision, Mr.. Hodgen said:
I'VE had just pulled out of Iowa City
when we saw the freight coming to-
ward us l Immediately applied the
brakes, and Fireman George Down
ing and | jumped. Our engine had
come TO a standstill when it was
struck" Engineer Hodgen's presence
of mind saved his life without doubt.
If he and Fireman Downing had re-
manned in their cab they would I'M
doubtedly have been ground into an
unrecognizable mass, as was their en-
CINE.
A. r. Mccullough, of 2400 Fifth av-
enue, baggageman on the passenger,
was buried under several baskets of
peaches and other articles in the bag
gage car. After being eXtricated he
complained of pains in his legs. He
was removed to the Office of DR. +. w.
Littig, where il was found that ne was
badly cut and bruised about the right
hip and left knee His right foot be-
tween the knee and ankle was also
bruised. After his wounds were dress
ed Mr.. Mccullough stated that he
would return home on the first train.
Rogers Jumped.
Frank Rogers. of Natick yards, fire
man ON the freight train, was the most
seriously injured. With Engineer Guild
ner. of the freight. he jumped. but was
pinioned under a car. His left leg
was crushed near the thigh and two
ribs on his right side were broken. He
also sustained a severe laceration q
the base of the spine and extensive
bruises about the face and head. He
was removed to University hospital,
where everything possible was done tU|
allay his sufferings. DR.. l.. w. Littig.
who attended him. stated that, although
his injuries were of a serious nature.
no internal injuries had manifested
themselves. and there were sliSht
hopes for the mans ultimate recovery.
Conductor Braithwaite. who was in
charge of the freight train. refu.ed 20
discuss the collision. A report is cur
rent, however. to the effect that the
freight should have sidetracked at Tiff
fin and allowed the passenger 10 go
by.
There is an embankmedt IF - feet
where the collision occurred. At the
colliding point. also. there is only d
single track. The scene of the wreck
was the mecca of thousands of people
yesterday afternoon and last night.
The wrecker from Rock Island ar
rived about 4 O'Clock and commenced
work. The track was cleared about 9
O'Clock.