The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-23

Centraiin, ILL.,, january :c-The state
OF Illinois, the coroner of Marion coun-
~ and the Illinois Central RuiIrond
Company itself to-day began a three.
fold investigation of the fatal collision
on that railroad early to-day, In which
four men high In tho railroad world
were killed at lStnmundy, thirty miles
ndrthcast OF here. In a private cur of
wooden construction, attached to train
No. 20, she New Orleans Express, four
men were Instantly killed, while four
other men In the forward end of tho
same car eneaped unhurt.
The four victims Of the wreck were
sleeping IN tho rear end of the private
EAR. which was teiescoped by the en-.
ginc pulling train No. 3. the Panama
Express. running fifty miles an hour.
The Dead.
james T. Harahau, OF Chicago, former
president OF the Illinois Central.
Frank o. Melchcr, second yicc-presi
dent of the Rock Island, whose chr was
crushed.
Il. b. PIERCE, general solicitor OF the
Rock Island.
EtdridSe f. Wright, of Me mphls, vice.
president of n Rock InIand bridge COM
pnny, and son of Luke Il. Wright,
former Secretary OF War.
The Injured.
Robert Stuart, engineer.
c. j. Bert, fireman, both OF the lin
tied.
Jesse Gilbert, fireman OF express.
They were taken to their homes In
Champaign. Bert has fractured
stuart Is suffering from conclusion OF
the brain.
The heavy engine, drawing a solid
train of steel sleeping cars, plowed
halfway through the private car The
four other occupants-Byron B. Curry,
secretary to Vice-President Melcher;
Thomas Busbee, local attorney of the
Rock Island at Little Rock, Ark, and
two negro porters-escaped with
bruises. after being buried in the debris.
witnesses were examined by Deputy
Coroner Grant Weatherling. and the
inquest was continued until Friday TO
enable members of the crew of the
engine OF the limited to testify. The
deputy coroner expressed the opinion
that the y responsibility lies between
Stuart and Fiagman Henry j. Broecker
Of the express, who lives in Chicago
nodies Arc Mutilatcd.
The bodies of the four victims were
mutilated. Their arms were torn OF,
and the top of Mr.. Harahan's head
was cut away. The car was reduced TO
Junk Citizens of Kinmundy aided the
train crews and passengers In remov-
Ing the debris from the dead. Friends
OF the officials took the bodies of MIR.
| Harahnn, Mr. Mclcher and Mr.. PIERCE
to Chicago. Mr.. Wrights body was
taken South to Memphis.
Mr.. Bnsbee, in speaking Of the cs-
cape from the car, said:
Il retired only few minutes before
the wreck. and had hardly fallen asleep
when was aroused by II terrific crash
as the locomotive of the limited split
our car in two When l got my bear
inss | found myself and Curry, who
was asleep in the upper berth of the
same compartment, virtually covered
by debris.
we assisted each other to arise,
and after a great deal of difficulty man
aged 10 make our way out Of the ear
at the forward end. a crowd had
gathered by the time VIC got out. and
we searched the ruins of the private
car, finding the bodies of Mr.. Harahun.
Mr.. Mclchcr, MIR Pcircc and Mr.. Wright
They were badly mutilated.
The compartment In which Mr. Curry
and were sleeping was In the forward
end of the car. and to this fact we
probably owe our lives. 1t is marvel
Gus that we escaped, as it wac"
| Curry said he retired about I0:45
o'clock and had been sleeping soundly
long time before the crash.
| Flngmnn Textiles.
Broecker. testifying ut the. inquest.
said he, was riding on the next to the
last car of the express. and that when
1t stopped at Kinmundy, thirty miles
north of here for water. no ran back
With his lantern for n block and n
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