The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-22
Vice Pres. Melchers, Rock
Island, General Solicitor
Pierce and E. E. Wright,
Other Victims.
AN ENGINE CRASHED
INTO MELCHERS' CAR
As the Train to Which 1t Was
Attached Was Standing at
Kinmundy. Ill. Several
Were Injured.
(National News Association)

(National News Association)
CHICAGO, Jan. 22-Former Prcsi-
dent James T. Harahan, Sr., of the H.
linois Central railroad, Arst vice pres
ident F. O. Melchers and general solic-
itor f. B. Pierce Of the Rock Island
railroad. and Elmer f. Wright. son Of
the former secretary Of war. we're kill
ed in wreck at Kinmundy. Ills. ear
ly this morning, when Melchers' pri-
vate car. which the victims occupied.
was run into by passenger train and
demolished while 1t was standing on
the tracks in front of the station.
The Illinois central Semonile Flyer
to the rear of which Melcher's private
car had been coupled, had stopped at
Kinmundy to take water. Illinois Cen
tran passenger train No. came thun-
dering along at high speed. crashing
into the standing train. The locomo-
tive plowing its way twenty Ave feet
into Melchers' car, in the rear section
OF which were seated Harahan, Mel
cher, Pierce and Wright. killing them
instantly.
Tossed Through the Roof.
Harahan's body, frightfuliy cut and
bruised. was tossed through the root
of the car. The other bodies were bur.
led in the wreckage. Other occupants
of the private car were Rock Island
railroad attorney, Thomas Busby: BY
ron Curry. secretary to Mr.. Melchers,
and two colored porters. All were Sc
verely injured. Engineer Bob Stuart
of the second locomotive. may die Of
injuries. His fireman was also badly
hurt. Many passengers on train No.
were thrown from their berths but
their injuries were pronounced not Sc
rious. The cause Of the accident 10
undetermined. but No. 3 was supposed
to have clear track. 1t never stops
at Kinmundy. Harahan, as q guest of
Melchers. was enroute to Memphis in
the latter's car, which. through cour-
tesy, had been attached to the Illinois
Central train. The shock of the colli-
sion awoke the citizens and rescue
work was we'll under way when assist
ance arrived from Decatur and Centra-
liza. The bodies were brought to Chi
cago.
Investigation completed at noon de-
veloped the local train disregarded or
ders by stopping at Kinmundy and the
flagman failed to 90 back and flag the
limited:
overturned after the crash. The Mel
chers car was demolished and the cars
ahead badly damaged. The crash woke
people living in the little town of Kin
mundy and they were the first to rush
to the aid of the injured.
News at once sent to the railroad Of
fees at Centralia and Decatur and
help was rushed to the scene at once.
Many of the injured, and the dead
bodies of the victims of the accident
had been lifted from the debris by tho
townspeople before railroad help ar
rived. Fortunately the wreckage did
not catch fire and the rescuers were
able to remove the injured without tho
added risk of fire.
Sleeper Teiescoped.
The wrecked private car teIescoped
the sleeper in front. The private car
rammed its way into the smoking and
dressing room at the rear of the sleep
er.
The body of E. B. Pierce was found
under heavy beam not far from
that of Harahan. The others had been
cast under the wreckage and 1t was
some minutes before they were lift
ed out. Busby and Curry were also pin
ned under the wreckage and were cut
and bruised. They are believed to be
the most seriously hurt of the injured.
Wright. who il 80, lives in Memphis
and was on his way to his home there.
He was a friend of Harahan and had
been interested in a number Of ven-
lures throughout the south in which
Harahan was interested.
An emergency hospital was estab-
lished in an open field beside the
track. First aid was administered
there to the injured. Their wounds
we're dressed as carefully as posi-
bic. Surgeons and nurses arrfved on
the relief train and relieved the suf-
fering of the injured.
Sketch of Harahan.
Mr.. Harahan was one OF the best
known railroad men OF the country.
He began his career q 4 freight clerk
in the offices OF the old Boston and
Providence railroad q Boston. Born
Jan. II, 184s, in Lous Nass, he af-
tended the public SCHOOLS there and
Continues on T1ss gixl