Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-23
RAILROAD COMPANY STARTS
PROBE OF ;olsAsTER WHICH
KILLED OFFICIALS.
EXPERTS CALLED IN TO
@ AID IN LOCATING BLAME
Members Of Train Grows Called in
Vice President Park Declares Thsrs
Will Be No Whitswashins-Train.
mon Not as Seriously Injured ~ at
First Reportsd-othsr Nsws.

president and general manager Of tho
Illinois Central railroad. convened here
TO-DAY to investigate the wreck at Kin
smundy. whic., resulted in the death of
]. T. Harahan. F. o. Melcher. E. B..
Pierce and E. E. Wright.
y Besides Mr.. Park the following per-
sons formed the COMMITTEES:
Dean Gross. Of the University Of IL
lnois; j. s. Berry. chief engineer CT
the Rock Island: G. L. Pittinger. OF
Cent ralia. H., capitalist: a representa-
tive of the Illinois railway and ware
house commission. and representative
Of the interstate commerce commits
sion.
The inquiry was ordered by Mr.. Park
and others were invited to join him.
Members Of both train crews in
volved In the collision were called. En-
gineer Stuart. who was in charge OF
the fast train that hit the private car
carrying the party sof railroad men.
was able to report tpr examination to-
day. Neither lie noraJesse Gilbert was
as seriously injured as at first re-
ported. Both expected to testify be-
fore the committee.
Chicago, Jan. 23.-Three invcstiga-
tons were hesun yesterday to fix re-
sponsibility for Sthe rear-end collision
OF two Illinois Central railroad pas
senser trains near Kinmundy. ILL.,. early
esterday. morning. In which James T.
Harahan. former president Of the road.
and three other well-known railroad
mon wore killed and three trainmen in
Jured.
Tho first investigation begun was
that by tho coroner OF Marion county,
Illincis, who examined two witnesses
and continued the herring until Fri
day. that the crow of the Panama Linn
tied may. testify.
Grant Weatherling. deputy coroner
Of Marion county, last night expressed
the opinion that responsibility for the
collision lies between Stuart. engineer
Of the Panama Limited, and Henry j.
Broecker. f,agn1an for the New Orleans
Express. who lives in Chicago.
The Illinois state railroad and ware
house commission also has begun an
inquiry into the wreck causes.
The major investigation Of the day
was that authorized BY the Illinois
Central Railroad Company Itself. an
uncompromising public investigation
in which nothing is to be left con-
cealed.
! w. L. Park. vice president and gem
eral manager Of the Illinois Central,
called together by telegraph the inves-
tigating board and will conduct the In
auiry.
The board will begin its sittinss in
Champaign. ILL.,. today. and Mr.. Park
will personally attend and conduct the
hearings. He departed from Omaha
last night for Champaign.
!. II am Of tho belief that negligence
caused tho wreck" said Mr.. Park. In
Omaha. II have wired our officials In
Champaign TO have everything in
readiness for a thorough investigation.
"rhe flagman claims to have gone
back to flag the oncoming train. but
undoubtedly he did not take the pre-
cautions Instructions prescribe"
Those who will conduct the inquiry,
at the invitation OF the railroad and In
addition to itself. are representatives
OF the interstate commerce commission,
the Illinois railroad and warehouse
Commission. D. A. Goss OF the Univer-
sity OF Illinois, and G. L. Pittinger. a
capitalist Of Centralia, III.
+ There viii bc no whitewash." said
T. ]. Foley. assistant general manager
OF the Illinois Central. I'VE will 20 to
the limit to establish the blame. The
Illinois Central railroad wishes to
know the truth, and all Of It,"