The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-22

limited Press Specioi wiz Aooi 'AsS'
CHICAGO, Jan. 22.-Former presi-
dent. James T. Harahan, Sr.. of the
Illinois Central railroad and three
railroad officials travelling with him
in a private car were killed in wreck
on mat line at Kinmundy. H., at 12:40
a. m. today.
The dead:
JAMES r. HARAHAN.
3. b. PIERCE, Chicago, general SO.
( ,,c;tor of the Rock Island
O. MELcHoR, Chicago, second
vice president of the Rock Island rail-
road
n f. WRIGHT. Memphis, son OF
former secretary OF war, Luke
Wright. connected with the legal de-.
narmen. Of the Illinois Central.
An official statement by the Illinois
ceutra, officials here says that no
messengers we're seriously hurt, but
that Engineer Stewart Of one OF the
wrecked trains and his fireman were
injured.
The priyate car on which the rail-
road officials we're riding, vas the
rear car Of train No 25. southbcund.
which had stopped at the tank at
Klnmnndy to take on water. Train
No 8 also southbound, which had the
right of way. crashed into the rear
Of No. % while going at a speed OF
fifty miles an hour. The private car
was utterly demolished and every
person in it was killed. Harahan's
body was thrown through the roof OF
the car and found beside the wreck
age. The body OF Melchor was found
tast of Harahan Pierce an
Wright were taken from the wreck
age by passengers. All We're dead
when their bodies were found,
Misunderstanding.
misunderstanding OF orders is
given as the cause Of the disaster.
Train No. % had orders to take the
siding at Kinmundy for No. 3 to pass
her Her crew believed they had time
to take on water before taking the
siding. The engineer OF No. 3, be-
lieying he had clear track, was 60
ing ahead at top speed and he saw
the rear lights on the private car too
late TO avert a collision or even to
reduce the speed of his train The
heavy engine plowed through the
light private car and reduced It to a
mass Of splintered wood and twisted
IRON. The crash came without the
sllghtest warning to those in the car.
Passengers of both wrecked trains
formed volunteer rescue brigade
and the bodies We're quickly removed
from the scene and taken to the sta
ton In Kinmundy Within fifteen
mlr-tes after the accident, wreck
ing train and corps OF physicians
We're on tho way to the scene from
Centralia.
he bodies OF Harahan, Pierce and
Melchor were sent to this city today
according to adyices received by OF
tlclals of the railroad here and will
-'''N ot o.ou tuIc ditcIbCpI. > he
BODY of Wright was sent to Memphis
bis home,
Both of the wrecked trains are
through Chicago-New Orleans trains
no. % the one carrying the private
car running via Memphis, while No
. did not stop there. The railroad mer
,eit Chicago at $50 last night No.
ieft at O'clock.
Harahan and his guests were en-
route to attend conference Of rail
ROAD interests at Memphis today rel
sVve to plans for building new
priage across the Mississippi rive
az that point The Rock Island ant
.ne illinois Central companies wer,
'heerested in the construction. Har
anan recently became interested ii
Dig construction company.
Early Reports.
Iarly reports to the effect that Mrs
liarahan and James T. Harahan, Jr
were on the wrecked train and wer
qnohg the injured, are false, Mrs
nafahan is at home In Chicago an,
NV son Is at St Luke's hospital sui
's,lng from broken arm.
onicials Of the railroad here hav
.as'ea rigid investigation as to tn
Nase OF the wreck President Marx