Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-01-05
THREE KILLED; IS
HURT IN WRECK.
Rock Island California Special
Ditcned Near Trenton, Mo.
CAUSE is STILL IN DOUBT
Train, Running at High Speed, Leaves
Rails and PIunges Down Five
Foot Observation-Disclosures
Are Burned.


sons, two of whom are women, were
killed, at least forty-five others in
jured, when Rock Island passenger
train No. 3, the California special, was
wrecked two miles south of here.
The dead: o. P Lininger, fireman,
Trenton, Mo-; Mrs. Gertrude Barnes
Armourdale, Kan; unidentified woman.
Among the injured were w. I. Hill
lington, engineer, Trenton, Mo-,
serious; J. Zoring, Davenport, Ia,
serious; J. G.. Childers, Ander-
son, Ind; Mrs. Nancy Hamers-
ley, Let's, Ia; Mary Goodnor, What
cheer, Ia; Mrs. Drusilla Knapp,
Adrian, Mich; E. A. Peacock. Keosa-
qua, Ia; w. S. Winson, Ottumwa, Ia;
F. E. McMeans, mail clerk, Davenport,
Ia; w. L. Cline, mail clerk, Rock Is
land, Ill.
Mrs. Anna schal1enbergeS. Nichols.
Iowa.
DIR. Fannie Schaffer, Centreville, Ia.
M. Porcupil, Parkersburg, Ia.
Cause of Wreck In Doubt.
The cause of the wreck is unknown,
although it is thought to have been
caused by spreading rails. While the
train was running at high speed,
the engine and tender suddenly left
the track and plunged over a five-foot
embankment. They were instantly fol-
lowed By two baggage cars, mail
car. a tourist car and a Pullman sleep
er. Of the entire train but a sleeper
and an observation car remained on
the track.
While passengers in the wrecked
cars were struggling to escape from
the debris, fire started. The cars
burned like finder. The bodies Of
the three who lost their lives were
badly burned. Scores were rescued
after the flames had scorched their
clothing or burned their flesh. Many
were pinioned under the wreckage
and begged piteously to be released
before the fire reached them.
Directs Work of Rescue.
David Siegel of Cleveland, O., was
held for an hour while the flames burn
ed within a few feet of him. He in
structed the rescuers to carry water
from the tank of the engine and put
out the fire nearest his body. This
was done and eventually he was res
cued, although he will lese an arm.
Heroic rescues were numerous. Men
and women who escaped from the
cars by kicking out windows or break
ing down doors quickly rushed back
into the burning wreckage to rescue
their less fortunate fellow passengers.
At the risk of their own lives they
carried the burned, manned and
bleeding to places of safety.
Coming as 1t did, far from station
and more than half mile from farm
house, the wreck occurred in a most
desolate spot. Not a building of any
kind was near the wreck. The ground
was covered with snow and a raw
wind was blowing.
Thrown into the open ar with but a
small portion of their clothing, even
those who escaped injury in the wreck
suffered terribly. But the strong
readily sacrificed everything for the
weak. Men gave up their coats to
the women and children and injured.
Women tore strips from their cloth
ing to make bandages for the
wounded.
Relief Trains Made Up.
AS many injured as room could be
made for were placed in the two
cars that remained on the track. 9th
ers stood about bonfres made Of por-
lions of the wreck until relief train
arrived.
The most seriously injured were
taken to hotel in Trenton. Another
relief train took 20 of the injured and
the uninjured passengers to Kansas
City, Mo. All passengers we're pro-
vided with tickets to their destina-
tons at that point.
A rigid investigation Of the cause
Of the wreck is to be made. A coro-
ner's inquest will be started here.