Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-14
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Quick Wit Of sWitohmAn Dumps Runaway
Train in the Ditch.
FREIGHT CARS PILED UP AND SOME BURN
Rock Island Freight Trains Collide
and when Engineer Jumps One
of the Trains Takes the
Back Track.

| Quick work on the part Of Union
Stock yards switchman probably saved one
Of the most disastrous wrecks in the his
| tory Of the Rock Island road Rock Island
freight No. 81, which is made up by the
heavy engines from Council Bluffs, was
pulling westbound to the Albright sta
ton at about a. m. yesterday morning.
AS the train neared the station the crew
saw the headlight Of the eastbound freight
No. % appearing at full speed. To save
collision Weaver, the engineer, reversed
his engine and when the two engines APP
| peared about to strike. both he and his
fireman jumped off. The two engines came
together but the westbound train was
already moving fast on the reverse and this
impact was slight. After that the train
ran wild back through the South Omaha
yards The Union Stock yards switchman
saw the train approaching and with great
forethought threw the switch and turned
the train, then moving at the rate of
about thirty miles per hour, upon line
Of dead refrigerator cars. The collision
with these cars occurred under the l. street
viaduct About six of the cars we're
wrecked and the contents scattered over
the siding. The stove In the way car of
the train ignited the woodwork Of the
cars and the South Omaha fire department
was called out and had some difficulty in
extinguishing the blaze. If the puzzle had
not been turned the wild train would have
ran into the Union depot in Omaha at
terrific rate, provided It had not wrecked
the early passenger train on the way. AS
1t was. the loss was about $4,000 from the
wrecked cars.
Mysterious Accident mt Packing Plant.
A mysterious accident occurred at an
"A Tlaadav Morning at the Omaha
Packing plant. Michael Mitchell a man
employed as an ash trucker, was found by
his companions lying unconscious at the
ash dump, having sustained fracture OF
the skull and injuries to his right arm.
The man was discovered at about $3.50. He
was unconscious and when he partially re-
covered could tell nothing of the cause Of
his condition. The workmen surmise that
| his ash truck upset and struck him,
knocking him down Otherwise they are at
loss to account for his serious injury. Pos
sibly he might have been attacked by some
unidentified parties, but there is nothing
| to indicate such an attack. He was re-
moved to the South Omaha hospital where
his skull was operated on to lift up the
spllntered bone and relieve the pressure on
the brain. 1t is thought he will recover
provided no unlocked for complications set
In. The man lives at Twenty-first and
streets, South Omaha He is one of the
night gang at the Omaha company's boiler
house.
Discussion of Annexation.
The Highland Park Improvement club
will meet at the Lincoln school tonight to
discuss many important public questions.
OF late a strong sentiment has been dis
covered in favor Of annexation and the club
members will be given a chance to present
their opinions. The president of the club
| has secured the services Of several men
who favor the move and there will be some
probably who will take the opposite side
OF the question Aside from this the club
! is much interested in the project Of via
duct on west street. This street is now
being graded from Twenty-sixth to Twenty
ninth, or to the east approach of the Via
duct as 1t is now planned. The question OF
an additional bond issue for the sewers and
the manner of its presentation to the legis-
lature will be topics of discussion.
Progress on Malt Plant.
The Bryson- Peterson malt plant at
| Twenty-ninth and streets Is taking on
extensive proportions and the new eIeva-
tor has the frame raised. 1t has been found
that the cost Of the plant will be much
greater than at first contemplated. It is
now believed that fully $4,000 will be ex-
pehueu DeloTe IL - complete me small
plant belonging to the company, has sold
about 10000 bushels OF matted grains dur
Ing the past year. While it is not hoped
that this plant will be able to supply all
of the local demand yet It will take a
large share Of it.
AppraiHInE Damages in Alley,
The board of appraisers for the paved
alley in block eighty-one South Omaha,
met with the citizens and attempted TO
come to an understanding as to the dam
ages arising from the change of grade OF
the alley. It's finding will be reported to
] tha clt.. AL.-.a... .,l..k.