The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-24

III us SlOTy VI the WYNN oh th'
Omaha road at Blakely Sunday, The
st Paul Dispatch says:
Directly after the accident the gen
eral office in st. Paul was Informed
of the wreck. The information stated
that the engineer of the passenger
said he had seen man at the switch
Just before his train turned in. The
company began an investigation at
once.
All members of the freight crew
were found but Hermann, who was
missing. A short search failed to To-
cate him, but before much could be
done a wire was received from Di-
vision Superintendent Shaker, at st
James, which contained a message re.
ceived by MIN from Hermann.
The message sent by Hermann was
filed from the Omaha passenger train
bound toward st. Paul. 1t read as
follows:
''Do you want me to give my
self up to the police on my arrival
on No. in st. Paul?"
w Heu the Tram IedcHeu IoI. IduI
Hermann went direct to the office OF
the railroad and told his story. He
freely confessed throwing the switch
but claims to have forgotten about
the passenger.
His story as told to the general
officers was substantially az follows:
Brakeman's Story of the Wreck.
"Our train arrived at Blakely at
noon and went upon the sidetrack to
allow the west-bound freight to pass
Our engine was steaming poorly and
we waited few minutes to allow
steam to reach a higher pressure. !
was on the engine and when | noticed
the gauge rising / left the engine and
went up to the switch, never thinking
of the passenger
81 expected the train to follow me
out on the main line. l threw the
lever over and started back for the
engine. When l had gotten about
three car lengths from the switch ]
heard the passenger coming.
Turns and Runs for the Switch.
81 turned and ran for the switch to
try to prevent an accident, but l got
there too late.
mo. 3 was running at a good speed
and the engine had turned onto the
switch when l got there. As soon as
the accident happened l started to-
ward Belle PLANE, intending to come
to st. Paul.
Il supposed l should notify the po-
lice and hte company at once and as
soon as l got on No. 1.-THE passenger
for st. Paul., l wired Superintendent
Shaker for instructions what to do.
Receiving no answer, l came direct to
the general office"
Railroad Record Unknown in ST. Paul.
Hermann is about twenty-five years
of age and pleasant appearing young
man. His home is in st. James, but
his record as far as the railroad is
concerned, could not be learned this
morning. Instructions were wired to
division headquarters in st. James to
forward that information at once, but
it was delayed.
The man appeared on the verge of
a breakdown as result of his act.
He seems to fully realize the serious
position in which he is placed, but
shows no disposition to dodge the is
sue. If he continues to act as he did
this morning, he will be willing to bear
any punishment the law may demand.
What action the railroad will take
with regard to prosecuting the brake
nan has not been decided as yet, ac-
'ording to A. w. Trenholm, general
manager.
Investigation May Fellow.
Whether an inquest will be held de-
ponds upon the findings of an inves-
tigation which will be started today
by Coroner A. Lois Hisher and County
Attorney w. NJ. Southworth of Scott
county.
The county attorney and the cor
oner were not officially notified of the
wreck, and when the coroner reached
the scene this morning the bodies had
been rmoved.
eve propose to take some action in
the mater" said County Attorney
Southworth. 1--WE feel that the county
officials should have been notified and
that we should have been givn an
opportu- .ty to hold an inquest before
the bodies were removed"
May Re Prosecuted.
| With regard to criminal prosecution
of Brakeman Hermann for criminal
negligence, Mr.. Southworth said:
"The case seems to call for legal
action. and something will surely be
done. | believe any court in the state
can try the case, but it should be
brought in Scott county, as it was
here the wreck occurred
Hermann was allowed his liberty
this morning and the railway officers
made no efforts to have him arrested
or kept under any restraint.
Had Complained OF Brakeman.
According to William Bell, engineer
of the Omaha freight train which was
wrecked at Blakely, when west
bound passenger train crashed into it,
the wreck might have been averted
had the warning, which Engineer Bell
gave the railroad some days ago, been