Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-15
Passenger Collides With Runa-
way Coal Car Near Bartlett,
I'LL. Badly Injuring Two
SERIOUSLY HURT
Engineer Charles Fose, Formerly Of
This City, Caught Between Boiler
Head and Tank-Fireman Gus Peter
son Jumped and Hurt by Fall and
Flying coal-others Injured.


run, going in the opposite direction,
collided with q runaway loaded coal
car near Bartlett, Ill.,, seriously injur-
ing two and slightly hurting three of
the members OF the train crew. 1t is
believed none OF the five are SO serious
ly hurt that their injuries will prove
fatal
The badly injured are Charles Fogg,
engineer, of Peoria, and Gus Peterson,
fireman, of Monmouth. Those Slightly
injured are Herman Giese, baggage
man, of Peoria, Brakeman w. j. Allen,
Roy Desart, mail clerk, of Mason City.
or those injured F'ogg and Giese for-
known here. Giese's parents, Mr.. ami
Mrs. Charles F. Giese, live at 90S South
Center street
Car Breaks Loose, Runs Away.
A car loaded with coal, and stand-
ing on siding at the Empire mine of
the Clark Coal and Coke Company, a
short distance west of Bartlett, which
is a suburban town of Peoria, caused
the wreck. No more treacherous
place for wreck could have been
chosen than where the car collided with
the west-bound passenger. The place is
known as Aliens curve, and is near
the foot of Kickapoo hill, the longest
and steepest grade of the entire line
Aliens curve Is extremely sharp, and
down grade from the siding to the
sloping track, running down the hill,
the car came, and rounded Aliens
curve. Just as the passenger train
reached the curve the car, which was
gaining momentum with every rail
length of its travel, crashed into the
engine. Fogg had time to apply the air
brake, and the sudden jolt with which 1t
slackened the speed of the train warned
the train crew of impending danger.
Fireman Peterson Jumped.
None Of the crew, with the exception
Of Peterson, the fireman, had time to
act to save themselves. The interval
between the sighting of the runaway
car and the instant when it and the To-
connective of the passenger came togeth-
er, was too short for action. Peterson,
however, had time to jump. He landed
on the frozen ground, and flying coal
which was shot from the car fell upon
injuries caused by the shower of coal,
he was badly hurt Conductor S. b.
Chapman, of this city, who was sitting
in seat in one Of the cars, did not
have time to move. He escaped unin-
jured, as did also NJ. K. Hallegan, an
other postal clerk. None Of the passen-
gers was hurt Only the engine the
baggage car We're derailed, ana both
were badly damaged.
Fogg Pinned in Engine.
The collision pinned Fogg, the engi-
neer between the boiler head of his To-
connective and the forward end Of the
tank. He was taken out very soon
after by members of the train crew. He
was somewhat scalded by steam and
was bruised and cut about the head
and shoulders. He and Peterson were
removed to st. Francis hospital at
Peoria, and information from there late
in the afternoon was that it was be-
lieved that they would recover.
Tossed About Baggage Car.
Giese, the baggageman, and Desart
and Hallegan the mail clerks, who were
in the combination mail, express and
baggage car, were tossed about inside
the car like rubber balls. A box of
meat, which was hurled across the car,
struck Giese in the back, knocking him
down. His injuries consist of bruises
on the back and legs. Desart was
thrown from ttle isle in which he was
standing against the letter case, bruis-
ing his hip. Allen was tossed against
the side of the coach, and was cut and
bruised about the head. A big hog,
which was in the express car, being
shipped in a crate, was hurled the en-
tire length Of the express compart-
ment.
Wreck Unavoidable.
Unless carelassness was responsible
for the loaded car getting away, the
wreck was unavoidable so far as any
of the train crew were concerned. AL
tho the passenger was running COM
slow, not over fifteen or
twenty miles an hour, because Of the
steepness Of the grade, the sharp curve
on which the train and car met pre-
vented the enginemen from seeing the
car until it was fairly upon them. How
fast it was going is not known, but
from the force of the collision it is
judged it was moving fully as rapidly
as the passenger. The engine, No. So,
was badly demolished, and the baggage
car damaged.
The wrecking crew from Monmouth
was summoned but it was o'clock in
the afternoon before the track was
cleared The unchanged portion of
the train and the slightly injured mem
bers Of the crew arrived in this city
this morning at 1880 o'clock. With the
exception of Fogg and Peterson all of
the others were able to be about to-
day.
Men Well Known Here.
Both Fogg and Giese formerly ran
out Of this city. Fogg, previous to be-
ing transferred to Keithsburg, years
ago had run out of this city. The
family lived at East Linn street
Giese formerly had baggage run out
of this city, and also lived here for
many years. At present he is in the
city.
A train wal, made up in the local
yard and sent north last night at about