Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-25

Centralia. H.. ian. 22.-The state OF
Illinois, the deputy coroner of Marion
county and the Illinois Central Rail-
road company Itself to-day began
three fold investigation Of the fatal
collision on that railroad in which
carly to-day four men, high in the
railroad world. were killed at Kin
mundy, 80 miles from here. In q pri-
Nate car Of wood construction attached
20 rain No. %, the New Orleans eX-
prnss. four men were instantly killed
aud four other men in the forward end
= the same car escaped unhurt.
The four victims of the wreck were
sleeping in the rear end of the private
ar which was tclescoped by the engine
pulling train No. .. the Panama limit.
u. running 80 miles an hour The
lead:
James r. Harahan of Chicago. form
II president of the Illinois Central.
Frank o. Melcher. second vice-pres-
dent Of the Rock Island railroad
whose car was crushed.
T.. r. PIERCE. general counsel Of the
Rock Island.
Eldridge f. Wright Of Memphis. vice
president of Rock Island bridge COM
pany and SON of Luke + Wright.
tormer secretary of war.
The traiumen injured are: Robert
Stuart. engineer. and &. j. Bert, fireman.
both ot the limited; Jesse Gilbert. fire.
man Of the express They were taken to
their homes in Champaign. Bert has
fractured skull, Cilberts hip was broken
and Stuart is suffering from conclusion Of
tho brain.
FLOWED THROUGH CAR.
The heavy engine, drawing a solid train
of steel sleeping cars plowed half way
through the private car. The four other
occupants, Byron b. Curry. secretary 10
President .Melcher. Thomas Buzbee
local attorney OF the Rock Island at Lit.
tie Rock, Ark. and two negro porters es.
capped with bruises after being buried in
he debris
Witnesses were examined by Deputy
coroner Grant Woatherl!ng and the in.
aucst was continued until Friday to en-
able tire crew Of the engine Of the limited
to testify.
The deputy coroner expressed the optn.
Ion that the responsibility lies between
stuart and Flagman Henry J. Broecker
Of the cxrress. who lives in Chicago.
The bodies of the four victims were mu-
tilated. Their arms were torn off and the
top Of Mr.. IIarahan's head was cut away.
The car was reduced TO Junk. Citizens oil
Einnundv aided the train crews and pas
scnGe.s in removing the debris from the
sead
Friends Of the officials took the bodies
of Mr. Harahan, Mr.. Melcher and Mr.
Pcirce to Chicago. Mr.. Wright's body was
taken south to Memphis.
no sat
he was riding In the next to the last cal
on the express, and that when it stopped
q, Kinmundy. 80 miles north Of here eol
water. he ran back with his lantern ant
a block and a half to the rear gave thu
on-rushing limited signal. He testified
mis- signal was answered by the enginee
nv two blasts Of the whistle.
GOING TOO FAST TO STOP
stuart. it was said. applied the brakes
but the train was going at too great {
speed to be stopped. The force OF tn
collision was so great that the standin
train. with brakes locked. was shove
POO feet ahead.
PASSENGERS on each train escaped wit
slight bruiees caused by the sudoeh stop
ping of the trains.
Conductor John H. Brainard Of ChicaH
Of the express corroborated the test
monv of his fae1nan At Effingham h
testified that he told the hagInan that tn
limited was less than 10 minutes benin
and to make "A quick run to the rear whe
the train stopped at klnmundy for watel
Jndirectlv the cold weather it wa
said may have been contributin
rause of the wreck. All trains &C
-ording to an announcement. are unde
orders to stop at Kinmundy for waite
because of the shortage OF water alon
the road caused by the cold. freisf
rain, Immediately ahead OF the Oh
press, DELAYED II in getting water a
soon as was expected
Superintendent r. w, Baxter ~ I'll
illinois Central arrived here to-day an
Faid the road will hold public heal
nr to determine the cause Of the co
ision.
A. T. Layman, inspector for n
state board of railroad and warehous
commission, visited the scene to-nigi
und win make his report to-morro
when the boards hearing will begi
Testimony at the inquest will be use
by the state board.
Broccker. while testifying, advance
the statement that the towerman
Edgcwood failed to hold the limitt
the iull 10 minutes after the cxpre
had passed but Superintendent Baxt,
.aid there is no night operator
Tdcewood
The two trains we're combined ar
proceeded south two hours after Il
wreck.
RECALLS HARRIMAN-F1sH WAR
New York, Jan s2--James 7. Har
han came 70 the presidency OF the II
nois Central railroad in 1905 through Il
Influence ri Z. II. Hartman, who ia
after long fight succeeded IN ousni
etuyvesant Fish from the presidene
That fight had it's beginning late
1ed3. according 10 the late r. n Har'
,ran who. testifyine before the Int
STATE commerce commission alleged IN
Mr. Fish had Lern using his positi'
u president of the Illinois central
tuli Aer MIS- own personal lhIeseSIs