Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-13
Milwaukee Engineer Sub
merged in Water When
Engine Goes Through
Bridge at Cone Lake.
QUICKSAND AND HIGH
WATER WEAKEN PIER
Fireman J. Moriarty Loses
Leg in Accident; Two
Men Left Ottumwa at
2:30 a. M, Today.

John G. Adams, engineer Of the Mil
waukee, is dead and John Moriarty, q
Milwaukee fireman lost his right leg,
when their engine crashed through the
bridge over Cone Lake, fifteen miles
west OF Muscatine this morning.
Adams and his engine are submerged
in twenty-eight feet of water In the
lake. Moriarty was rescued from the
water and taken to Conesville, where
it is believed he will live. Quicksand
undermined pier No. OF the bridge,
and this with the high water, is be-
lieved to have caused the heavy en-.
CINE, Adams was driving to sink
through to the water below.
Supt. Macdonald with John, George
and Emil Adams. sons of the dead en-
gineer, left this afternoon for the
scene Of the accident.
When second No. 66 which left OF
tumwa at, 2:30 o'clock this morning
arrived at the Cone Lake bridge, the
first engine was cut off to avoid run.
ming the two heavy locomotives over
the bridge at once. One pier of the
bridge was reported to have settled
two inches yesterday, and the pile
driver was at work on the bridge
when No. 66 arrived this morning
Foreman Ed Kiburtz, in charge OF
repairing the bridge, reported 1t safe
one-half hour before the train arrived
Adams engine progressed as far az
pier No. 4, when 1t crashed through the
bridge to the waters below. Moriarty
jumped, but Engineer Adams remained
with the engine and as 1t dashed down
he was buried beneath the huge pile
The wrecker from Ottumwa juno
ton left Ottumwa and was at Cone
Lake shortly after the report of the
accident, which was received here
about 1890. Divers are also on the
ground and will be used to recover
the body Of Mr.. Adams. ..,
j., A Veteran RaIIroader.
John G. Adams had been employee
by the Milwaukee road for the past
thirty years, starting at the West
Milwaukee shops. He was transferred
to Marion and Chillicothe, and In 1901
came with his family to this city. He
was set up to the post of engineer
fourteen years ago. Mr.. Adams was
born in 1861 in Uppenheim on the
Rhine, Germany. His family consists
of Mrs. Adams and seven sons, as fol-
lows: John j., Jacob s., Emil H., Fred
L., George w. and Albert d. of Ottum,
wa and Henry 8. of Chillicothe, Mo-
He also has one brother, Jacob, and
two sisters, Mrs. Catherine Young
and Mrs. Mary Schneider of Milwaukee
He. was affiliated with number OF
lodges, being member in good
standing of the A. F. & A. M, I. 0. O.
F. No. 9, Brotherhood OF American
Yeomen, Knights and Ladies of Sc
curity, Court of Honor, Loyal Order OF
Moose and the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers.
The terrible death Of Mr.. Adams has
cast a pail Of gloom over the entire
west part OF Ottumwa, and the Mil
waukee employees, with whom the de-
ceased was great favorite, feel his
sad death most keenly. Mr.. Adams
had been man who was popular
with all his acquaintances.
His church affiliation was with the
First Presbyterian church, In which
he was q consistent member and sup.
porter.
The freight train of which Mr..
Adams engine was the first locomotive
has been detoured on the Rock Island
from Washington to Cranston. Until
the Cone Lake bridge is repaired. the
trains on that branch of the Milwau.
kee will use the Rock Island right OF
way from Cranston to Washington.