The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-08
ENGINEER AND FIREMAN
CAUGHT UNDER ENGINE
Former Instantly Killed and Lat.
tor Dies Later Of Injuries
Operator Is Arrested

Williamson. the injured fireman,
died Just at noon, at the Methodist
hospital.
Operator Arrested
The sheriff's Office received a re-
quest from the Santa Fe general
offices TO arrest the operator at South
Guthrie and hold him for investiga-
tion. Deputy Humphrey went out
and found Hedrick, the operator, at
his home, where he had gone irnme-
dately upon leaving the station. He'd
rick Is a small, peaked.faced youth,
probably 10 or 20, and he has been
married only a short time. He was
so broken up over the affair that he
could hardly talk and told Humphrey,
as near as he could, how the acci-
dent happened. He CLAIMS that he
got orders for the work train about
600, and tnat the train stayed around
the yards for about an hour after
ward. While he was out getting
some wood the engine pulled out and
he did not have any chance to warn
the Rock Island, which had already
left Seward. lie says that when the
call for doctor came over the wire
1t Just made him sick all ever" and
he could not stand being there any
longer, so went home.
HedriclS was turned over to Bob
Myers, a Santa Fe special officer and
the matter is being investigated this
afternoon.
Hedrick went with Myers willingly
nd 10 - 81 t.ttt, or-
had maze no EFFORT to get away. he
was simply stunned by the affair and
bis condition is pitiabie.
Dead Mans gulch added one aud
probably two more to It's long list OF
victims this morning when Rock Is
land train No. 74S. from Kingfsher,
end Santa Fe work train from Guth-
rle crashed into eacn other at 1901
this morning, totally demolishing thel
Rock Island engine, making wreck |
of the engine on the work train,
smashing the Rock Island baggage
car into splinters and instantly kill
ing A. Wilson, the Rock Island engi-
neer. probably fatally injuring r.
Williamson, his firemen, and injurng
number Of others, trainmen and
passengers
Rock Island Had Clearance ...
When the Rock Island train left
Seward, the crew we're given clear
ance papers, showing that they had
an hour and thirty minutes of clearl
track to reach Guthrie. Somehow or
ether, although the line was blocked
for No 74S. the Santa Fe work train
was sent out of Guthrie and the two
trains met in the cut. 1t is rumor-
ed that the Santa Fe operator at
South Guthrie gave the work train
clearance papers and that he FLED
when he realized what he had done.
but 1t has been impossible 10 verify
this report. AT any rate, as the trains
neared each other, both running al
full speed, the Santa Fe engineer
saw the Rock Island train onto him
and he and his fireman jumped from
the cab.
hock Island Engine Men Caught
AS they scrambled to their feet, the
two engines grappIed in their death
agonies The Rock Island engineer
and fireman were horribly mangled.
The baggage car was telescoped. J.
l.. Jones. the baggageman, said theI
first thing he knew there was ter
rife crash and when he looked up
from the floor, where he had been
thrown as the car started to turn, tae
stove was over his head. and every
badly bruised M but probably not ser.
iously, The dYeman. r. Williamson,
had his right leg crushed above thel
knee, Including the bones and suffer
ed deep cash IN 1is head The en-.
gineer was hurled against the boilcrI
and his body crashed flat. His re-
mains were carried away in blanket
by rescuing party.
Rock Island Conductor Hurt
Conductor II. Martin of the Rock
Island had his shoulder dilslocated
and was badly bruised. OF the Santa
Fe crew, Engineer Roy Gibson, Con-
ductor J. W. Dryer and Brakeman Q.
0. Snyder and Blattenberg were
bruised slightly. while II. A. Martin,
the fireman, suffered a sprained back.
Luckily there were not many pass
engers on the Rock Island sand none
was seriously hurt, only one Guthriel
man being injured: M. Gray, 314 West
Springer. who was bruised up consid-l
erably. The other passengers injured
We're: A. Scott, Pauls Valley; J. H.
Lively, Okarche: J. T. Davis. oil
cashlon; w H. Reese, Amarillo. Tex.
Relief Train Sent
A relief train was dispatched from
Guthrie as soon as news came of the
wreck and the injured were brought
in TO the Methodist hospital whefAl
d. filA too.s Charge OF tlleIl. Doelorl
Hill says that the chances are against
WilliamsonS recovery but he has
some slight hopes Of being able 10
save his life.
Dead Mans ealeh is fo,'A' miles