The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-29
TWO TRAINS CRASH INTO EACH
OTHER; MANY PEOPLE ARE INJURED


escaping death, is the result of a
railroad accident at Springfield yes
terday afternoon when two passeng-
er trains collided near the station.
At point perhaps 100 yards east
of the station the westbOund and
eastbound passenger trains had
head-on collision about three o'clock
yesterday afternoon. The force of
the impact was plainly heard about
the town and in a very few minutes
there was a crowd of spectators on
the ground to witness the result OF
the collision, the first to occur in
Springfield in many years.
Most of the passengers injured in
this accident were those who were
going home to spend Christmas with
their relatives. At least twenty
five persons were injured. Several
passengers whose names could not
lie ascertained received minor in
jurieS.
Misunderstood His Orders.
The blame for the collision has
not been placed but it is understood
that Engineer Rohde of the west
bound train was under the impress
sion that his train should come to
the station first, while at the same
time the eastbound passenger was
already in the yard and running at
fair rate of speed. The westbound
train had come to a full stop and
it was learned that the engineer had
reversed his lever. ostensibly with the
purpose of backing up his train and
taking the side track, when the
collision occurred. 1t seems that
Rohde misread his orders. The
westbOund train, which generally
gets the preference in coming into
the station was late and the other
train was already in the yard, and
therefore it seems that the west-
bound train should have waited i'm
stead of coming in.
Snow Storm Was Raging.
A snow storm was raging at the
time and it is possible that neither
OF the engineers observed the
danger OF their proximity until it
was too late. For a time there was
considerable excitement in the
coaches of both trains, for the pas
sengers We're hurled about, the win
dows were broken and the globes
on the lamps crashed to the floor and
broken to fragments. Tie pilots of
the two engines were reduced to
mass of refuse and splinters and
the train crews found it necessary
to remove the remnant from the
engines before resuming the trip.
Both trains were held at Spring
field about one hour.
In, l<, <N,l, rH.xf
was compelled to leays sdAas sassiasss
The others continued OH their trip,
but it could not be learned if there
were any internal injuries.
Conductor John Ryan was in
charge Of the eastbound train, and
Engineer Kluge was IN the cab Of
the locomotive. "..,'
This train was about fifty minutes
late in reaching Mankato yesterday
afternoon. ..--
How Trainmen Were Hurt.
The two brakemen, John Broderick
and w. A. Spaulding. both Of Wi
mona, were hurt in the act of lifting
the traps" in the vestibues as they
were approaching the station, when
the jolt came. Both were severely
shaken. Broderick's leg was wrench
ed and Spaulding's arm was scratch
ed and bruised as he was thrown
against the side of the vestibule
The injuries OF both, however, are
slight.
A freight crew was available and
were put i'll charge of the passenger
train westbound, and the two
brakemen returned to WinOna on
lnto ,..l>t
neer returned to his home at Tracy.
The two locomotives were in such
condition after the accident that
they were able to continue their
trips. The accident is considered a
most fortunate one in view of the
fact that no one was killed.