Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-22


Harahan recently retired from the !
presidency of the Illinois Central. !
Melcher lived at Winnetka, H., and
Pierce in Highland Park, ILL.,, suburb
of Chicago.
Engineer Stuart and Fireman
Veert OF the limited were the train
men injured. Both are from Cham
paign and were taken to their homes.
Stuart was cut and bruised and
Veert's leg was broken.
WATER SCARCITY THE CAUSE.
The bodies of the dead were taken
through here this morning to Chicago.
The cause Of the wreck is ascribed
to scarcity OF water along the road.
A special order makes it necessary
for all trains to take water at Kin
mundy, and freight train which took
water before the express held the eX
press longer than customary. Stuart
and Veert were lately transferred
from q passenger train. 1t is be-
lieved they forgot about the order for
all trains to take water. The flag
man on No 25 did not have time to
| flag the limited.
VICTIMS INITIATED.
The accident occurred a half block
north of the Kinmundy depot The en-
gine OF the limited went half way
through the private car splinteTing it.
The four men who escaped were in
the front OF the car and crawled
through openings made by the engine.
The bodies of the four dead were mu-
tilated. The top of Harahan's head
was torn off. The arms Of most of the
victims were torn of and a doctor re
ported the legs are held on by shreds.
TowERMAN BLAMED.
Harahan's body was perhaps mutt
lated more than the others. The re-
spCnsibility for the wreck was plac-
ed on the towerman at Edgewood by
Henry J. Broecker, fiagman of train
No. % at the inquest. He testified
the towerman should have blocked
No. for 10 minutes. The fireman
OF No. 25. Jess Gilbert, who was
standing on the tender was thrown
to the ground and suffered internal
/ injuries.
Three trainmen were injured.
SIGNALS ENGINEER.
: Broecker testified at the inquest
that he left his car and went to flag
the other train. Il ran back with my
white and red lantern" he testified,
and gave Engineer Stuart signals
He dropped a flag, showing he caught
the signals, but 1t seemed too late
r for him to stop the engine" The re
sponsibility for the wreck, according
TO the deputy coroner, lies between
: Broecker and the engineer of the lin
1 tied.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
: Chicago, Jan. 22.-The Illinois
Central today gave out z
formal statement concerning the
! wreck. Besides giving the name.
4 OF the dead and injured, the state
ment says No. % stopped at Kin
mundy at 1890 to take water ant
was run into by No. 8. Both train
II were southbound. The statemen
also says a formal investigation vii
be made Immediately. The bodie
OF Melcher. Pierce and Harahan ar,
being brought to Chicago, an
Il Wright's was sent to Memphis.
BLOW TO RAILROAD WORLD.
II Rrailroad circles here were sad
dened by the deaths. All of thos,
killed had a wide acquaintance
"Harahsn, Melcher and Pierce wer
all my warm friends said Presiden
Gardner of the Northwestern Il fee
distinct personal loss. Harahan wa
a graduate OF the practical school o
railway administration He di
/ things.
MELCHER AND PIERCE LEADERS.
"Melcher and Pierce were leader
in their respective lines of duty, anc
along with Harahan, enjoyed the eS
TEEN and confidence Of not only thei
immediate associates. but also the of
GERS and employees of other roads, a
well as that part Of the public wit
whom they came in contact. The
have lef. a gap in the community tha
= will b. felt for a long time to come.
:. TRIBUTE OF HARRIS.
10 G.. B. Harris, chairman Of the boar
ly o. directors Of the Burlington, said
II am greatly distressed at the new