Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-19
Mother instinct in l6-Year-Old
Minnie Trimball Asserts
Self in Crucial Test
rwo DIE NEAR LIscoMB
While Crossing Trestle, While Out for
Walk, Miss TrimbalI and Little
Cousin, verain Cook, Aged 8, Are
Caush underneath Iowa Central
Freight Train.

Altho she could have saved herself
by jumping, the mother instinct, in
Minnie Trimball. aged 16, asserted it
self upon crucial test, and she died
with her arms clasped about her lit
tie cousin, Verain Cook. aged s. Both
girls were struck and instantly killed
by north bound Iowa Central freight
train at a point two miles north Of
Liscomb at 4:15 Sunday afternoon.
The accident happened on the rail-
road trestle bridge spanning Doud
creek. A party of women and child
rem of the neighborhood We're out for
an afternoon stroll. and were walking
on the Iowa Central railroad tracks.
One section of a freight train passed.
and no thought that another might be
following it entered the minds of tho
light -hearted crowd.
Train Bears Down Upon Thorn.
A short time after the one train had
gone. and after the party had reached
a point farther up the track, another
freight, an extra double header, came
around q sharp curve. At this point
there is a steep down grade. Most Of
the party had crossed the trestle over
Doud creek, and as soon as the train
showed up those who were left on the
trestle started on a run for the other
side.
Two Girls Arc Caught.
All escaped the danger with the ex-
ception Of Miss Trimball and her little
cousin. Miss Trimball could easily
could have jumped and probably es-
was for the little girl. She ran back
to where she was. but in the excite
ment the little Cook girl fell. Miss
Trimball caught her up in her arms,
and was trying to regain her feet. but
was too late. The end came suddenly,
and both bodies were ground to pieces.
Bodies Taken to Union.
The bodies Of the girls were taken
by the train crew to Union. where
they were placed in charge of the
agent OF the company. Coroner Mich
OILS was notified, and left in his auto
mobile Tor the scene OF the accident.
He Investigated the particulars of the
tragedy, and decided that the case was
one OF accidental death, and that there
was no carelessness on the part Of the
railroad employees. No inquest will be
held.
Terrible Shock to Community.
The accident proved terrible shock
to the community. where the families
are well known. Miss TrimbalI was
daughter Of Linn Trimba1I. a farmer
living two and one-half miles north
east of Liscomb. The little Cook girl
was a daughter Of Charles Cook, Of
Union
The train that killed the girls was
an extra out Of this city, In charge OF
Conductor G. A. Bowen. The engines
were Nos. 81 and ~. in charge OF En-
CHEERS c. J. Brown, Of thfs city. and
Sam Sweartnsen. Of Hampton.
Engineer Has Terrible Experience.
It viii be many a. day before c. J.
Brown, the engineer Of the head loco
motive, forgets the sight OF the trag-
edy, which was stamped on his brain
as the engine passed over the bodies
Of the victims With the girls appar-
emily helpless to aid themselves, and
he unable to do aught to save them,
the situation was q terrible one to-
face. Brown said the look on Miss
TrfmbaTs countenGnce, Just before the
engine swept over her, haunts him
still.
Sew Thsn Too Late.
prnyryy, Oovyo hic varsity, 0f
the accident as follows:
1--WE were going down Ltscomb hill.
which has sharp curves, and it IS al
ways the rule to whistle as we round
these CURVES whistled on the last
curve, and Just as the engine came
out on the straight stretch Of track ]
saw three women and child on the
bridge. They appeared to he just
about the middle of It when first saw
them. They could not have been more
than 100 yards away at the time
Girl Appeared 10 Get Excttad.
ut appeared to me as tho the larger
girl, who was carrying the smaller one,
grew confused or excited and as; /
afterwards learned, men who were
near the bridge were yelling for her tn
drop thru the ties Sine was either
trying to do so, or to get to the end
Of the bridge which was onlya few steps
farther on, when it looked to me like
she fell, and carried the little girl down
with her.
"Both lay on their stonachs length
wise Of the track and between the
rails. Just before the engine passed
over them the larger girl raised her
head and turned her face up toward
the engine. The expression on her
face was indescrfbable. Then they
were under the engine"
Engineer Brown thought the body Of
the larger girl was dragged and rolled
about a quarter of mile The smaller
body was not dragged more than 100 /
feet
WIN ANOTHER VICTORY.