Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-23
ENGINE WRECKS CAR
OF ROAD OFFICIALS
ASLEEP IN BERTHS
F. o. MeICher and E. B. Pierce,
of Rock Island, and Attorney
EIridge Wright, of Memphis,
MangIed in Collision

CENTRALIA, i'll, ia. 22.-J. T.. Hara-
han, former president of the Illinois
Central railroad: f. o. Malcher. second
vice president of the Rock Island rail-
road, and two others were killed at l
O'Clock this morning when the Panama
Limited on the Illinois Central rail
road running so miles an hour crashed
into the rear of passenger train No. %,
which was taking water at Kinmundy'
30 miles north of here.
In addition to Harahan and Melcher,
f. b. Price. general solicitor of the
Rock Island, and Eldridge L. Wright
son of former Secretary of War Luke
f. Wright, of Memphis. are numbered
among the dead Twenty passengers were
more or less seriously injured.
Harahan. Melcher, Pierce and Wright
were asleep in their stateroom aboard
Mr.. Melchers private car, which was
attached 20 the rear of train No. 20.
PLOUGHS THROUGH CAR
The engine of the heavy limited
ploughed straight through MIR. Melcher's
car and jammed into a Pullman coach
directly ahead before it came to a stop.
The terrific impact of the collision drove
brake-locled train No. % 200 feet down
the right of way.
Cries of more than a score of injured
arose above the kissing of steam from
the splintered mass of wreckage. Train
men fought desperately TO reach those
who had been in Vice President Melch-
er's car.
The engineer and fireman Of the linn
tied. only slightly injured, were re-
moved first. While taking them out res
cuers stumbled onto the bodies of Mr..
Harahan and Mr.. Melcher. The bodies
OF Pierce and Wright were found a few
minutes later. All had been caught in
their berths without a chance of es-
cape
Four occupants of the private car es-
capped death or injury. These are By
ron B. Curry, private secretary Of Mr..
Melcher; Thomas b. Busbee attorney
for the Rock Island in the states Of
Arkansas and Louisiana, and two negro
poTters.
For more than two hours passengers
from both trains and residents of the
little town of Kinmundy worked to care
for the injured before help arrived from
outside points.
The first relief train carrying physi-
clans, nurses and Illinois Central off,
cials departed from Centralia shortly be-
fore o'clock and made the run tc Kim
mundy in half an hour.
Several of the injured who had been
taken TO the homes of residents Of Kin
n1undy were placed aboard the relief
train and brought 10 Centralia hospital
The bodies Of Mr.. Harahan Mr.. Meich-
er Mr. Pierce ID Mr.. Wright were
brought TO Centralia with the injured
aboard the relief train.
The limited. which does not stop at
Kinmundy, was scheduled to pass
through at 1890 o'clock. 1t was running
half an hour late.
The limited carried sleeping cars only
anC withstood the terrific smashing. The
express was composed of coaches, built
of steel. The trains were due TO pass
south of Centralia, but because of No.
Is being late. No. met it at Kinmundy.
Efforts to discover the flagman of
train No %. who was sent back to flag
the limited, were unavailing up to sew
eral hours ffter the wreck had oc-
CURED.
The bodies of the dead were taken
through here this morning to Chicago.
The cause of the wreS-- is ascribed to
scarcity of water along the road.
special order makes ii necessary for a1l
trains to take water at Kinmundy and
a freight train which took water be-
fore the express held the express long
er than usual.
It is probable that the engineer of
the Panama Limited forgot the order
TO take water at Kinmundy. The flag
man on No 70 did not nave time 10
flag the limited.
Harahan recently retired from the
presidency of the Illinois Central road
on a pension. Melcher lived at Winnet-
ka. H., and Pierce in Highland Park.
suburbs of Chicago. Mrs. Wright resided
in Memphis.
Residents of Kinmundy. town of $500
inhabitants. opened their doors to succor
the injured.
BODIES WE'RE MUTILATED.
The bodies of the four victims were mu-
tfated. The top of Mr. Harahan's head
was torn off The arms of most of the
victims were torn off and a doctor re-
ported the legs are held on by shreds.
Responsibility for the wreck was
placed on the towerman at Edgewood
by Henry. J. Broecker. flagman of train
No. %, at the inquest which began here
at noon. He declared the tOwerman
should have blocked No. for ten min
utes.
Broecker declared that he went back
TO flag the other train.
ct ran back with my white and red
lantern" he testified land gave En-
gineer Stuart the signal. He indicated
by whistles that he caught the signals,
but it seemed to be too late for him to
stop his engine"
The two trains were combined after
the wreckage was cleared away and pro-
ceeded south.