Evening star., 1912-01-22
RAILWAY OFFICIALS
PERISH IN WRECK
Former President Harahan OF
the Illinois Central One OF
Four Dead.
PRIVATE CAR SMASHED
IN REAR-END COLLISION
Vice President Melcher and Luke
Wright's Son Among Victims.
NEW TRAIN CREW IS BLAMED
Failed to Make Stop at Kinmundy,
ILL.,, and Two Express
Trains Run To-
gether.
Vice President Melcher and Luke
Wright's Son Among Victims.
NEW TRAIN CREW IS BLAMED

CENTRALIA, H., January 22.-James
T. Harahan. sr., fermer president of the
Illinois Central: Frank o. Melcher, second
Peirce, general solicitor of the Rock Is
land, and Eldridge f. Wright, son of
Luke +. Wright. former Secretary of
War. were killed in a collision of an
Illinois Central New Orleans express and
the Panama limited. at Kinmundy. ILL.,,
about twenty miles from here early to-
day.
Two Trainmen Hurt.
Engineer Robert Stuart and Fireman
Vert of the Panama limited were in
jured. Both are from Champaign. and
were taken to their homes. Stuart was
cut and bruised and Vert's leg was
broken.
The bodies of the dead were taken
through here this morning to Chicago.
Failed to Stop for Water.
The cause of the wreck is ascribed to
scarcity of water along the road. spe-
cial order makes 1t necessary for all
trains to take water at Kinmundy, and a
freight train which took water before
the express held the express longer than
usual.
Stuart and Vert were freight crew
lately put on a passenger train. 1t is
believed they forgot about the order for
all trains to take water. The fiagman on
No. - did not have time to flag the
limited.
Four in Private Car Escape.
Train No. 25 known as the New Or
leans express. was taking water at Kin
mundy at 1 o'clock. when train No. 3.
the Panama limited. ran into the rear of
No. %
The killed were in the private car of
Mr. Melcher Their bodies were found
near the berths they had occupied.
Four occupants OF the private car es-
capped death or injury. THESE are Byron
B. Curry. private secretary of vice Presl-
dent Melcher: Thomas b. BuZbee, attor-
ney for the Rock Island for the state OF
Arkansas and Louisiana, and two negro
porters.
lhe engine of No. :; plowed Its way
tached to No. % and was stopped by the
steel coaches Immediately preceding.
Standing Train Showed Ahead.
The impact showed the standing train
for a distance down the tracks. although
its brakes were locked.
Three relief trains left Centralia soon
after the wreck. intending to fetch the
injured and dead to this place. The lin
tied carried sleeping cars only and with
stood the terrific smashing. The express
was. composed of coaches built OF steel
No Flagman Sent Back.
The trains were due to pass south of
Centralia. but because of No. % being
late No. 3 met it at Kinmundy. 1t is said
no fiagman went back from No. %.
Mr.. Harahan recently retired from the
presidency OF the Illinois Central road on
a pension Mr. Melcher lived at Winnet-
ka ILL.,, and Mr.. Pierce I'm Highland
Park. suburb of Chicago. Mr.. Wright
resided in Memphis.
Company's 0mcial Statement.
CHICAGO. January 22.-The following
statement concerning t,e wreck was
given out at the offices OF the Illinois
Central Railroad Company:
"Southbound train No. -. with regular
equipment and an additional Rock Island
business car. stopped at Kinmundy sta
tion at 12::0 this morning to take water
and was run into by southbound train
No. :: between 1870 am. and l2SJ q. m.
resulting in the instant death Of F. c;
+. r. r.: Judge f. p. Peirce. general
solicitor of the C.. r. !. and p. r. r.; ]. T..
Harahan. former president of the Illinois
Central railroad, and Maj. h. T.. Wright
OF Memphis. Tenn.
Remainder of the party in the Rock
Island car. consisting of Thomas Busbie.
local attorney. Chicago. Rock Island and
Pacific railroad. Little Rock. Ark, and
Byram Curry. secretary to Mr.. Melcher.
also two porters. were uninJured.
Inquiry to Begin at Once.
Formal investigation will be conducted
as early possible today, tho board of
inquiry consisting of officials of the COM
pany and business men from Centralia
and kinmundy.
The bodies OF Messrs Meicher Peirce
and Harahan are being handled on spe-
ciaI train en- route to Chicago and will
reach here about 20 pm.
The body OF Maj. Wright will be for
Warded TO Memphis, Tenn.