Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-23
TRIPLE PROBE OF
RAIL WRECK ON
Coroner's Jury, State Commis-
sion and Illinois Central
Conduct Investigation.
lis TO BE A THOROUGH ONE
Bodies of Victims Of Kinmundy Dis
aster Reach Chicago-More
of the Details.


OF Illinois, the coroner of Marion
county and the Illinois Central Rail-
road company itself have begun a
three-fold investigation of the fatal
collision on that railroad in which
early yesterday morning four men,
high in the railroad world, were killed
at Kinmundy, 80 miles northeast of
here. In a private car of wood con-
struction, attached to train No. 25,
four men were instantly killed, while
four others in the forward end of the
same car escaped unhurt. The four
victims of the wreck were sleeping
in the rear end of the private car
which was telescoped by the engine
pulling train No. 8. the Panama linn
tied, running so miles an hour.
FUNERAL OF VICTIMS.
Chicago, Jan. 23.-The funerals of
Harahan and Melcher, killed in the
Illinois Central wreck, will be held
here tomorrow. The body Of Peirce,
another victim, has been taken to the
former home of his wife in Fort
Smith, Ark, where the funeral will
be held tomorrow. Accompanying
the body of Peirce were Robert
Walker, chairman of the board of di-
rectors of the Rock Island system;
NJ. L. Bell, general attorney; T. l..
Beman, assistant attorney; ]. B.
Berry, chief engineer, and Thomas
S. Busby, attorney in Arkansas for
the Rock Island.
Memphis, Tenn, Jan. 23.-The
! funeral services for the late E. E.
Wright, killed in the wreck on the
Illinois Central Monday, will take
place here -sWednesday.------
OFFICIALS MEET TRAIN.
Chicago, Jan. 23-A committee OF
Rock Island officials met the special
train conveying the dead into Chi
cago. Among the Rock Island Off
Gals who silently awaited its coming
were General Manager w. S. Tinsman,
John Sebastian, third vice president;
L. NJ. Allen, passenger traffic manager;
J. E. German, first vice president; II
Cover, freight traffic manager; Leroy
Kramer and A. c. Ridgeway, assist
ants to Mr.. Melcher: and number OF
friends of Mr.. Peirce from the lega
department of the road.
Besides the dead the train bore By
ram Curry, secretary to Mr.. Melcher
and F. Francis and William Euber
colored cook and porter of Mr.. Melch
er's private car, who owe their escap,
to the fact that they were asleep in the
forward end of the car.
TELLS OF HEROES.
t William c. Harter of Chicago, wht
f was a passenger on train 25, pay
: tribute to the bravery of Mr.. Curr,
/ and the car porter in telegram sen
from Covington, Ky.
;. THE wreck developed two heroes,
wired Mr.. Harter. ''Mr. Melcher's sec
retary made every second count. HoI
\ ing to find some of the men alive, h
\ personally superintended the work c
: separating the engine from the privat
: car. into which it had bored, while tn
. colored porter dove into the wreckag
r and brought out the dead. The promI
o action of Curry and the porter pre-
e vented the wreckage from catchin
> fire"
e Thomas Busbie, attorney for tn
g Rock Island at Little Rock, Ark, an
y | were asleep in sofa berths in the di1
ing compartment of the private ca
l. while the two colored men slept we
l. forward" said Mr. Curry. THE men
" bers of the party retired early. W
e were all asleep when the engine of ii
limited train ran into the rear of OIL
L coach.
Il was awakened by the crash of IL
J. engine and was thrown out on the di
IL ing table before | realized what hs
u happened. The engine had plowe
L into the dining compartment and sto
ped within few in ches Of our berth
E 1t was so close was stupefied for
few minutes by the fumes from Il
y smokestack.
~ Cropping through the darkness al
" smoke without waiting to put on O
shoes, and clad only in our mig
ie clothes, we found our way to the sou
: door of the car, which was intact. Z
hind US was a mass of splinter
woodwork, in front the snow-cover
right Of way. We chose the latter.
=. % FIND THE BODIES.
m THE first thing we saw was the
or gine rammed two-thirds of the W
N through the coach. AS soon as DOS
as bic the car was pulled free from
engine to prevent the danger of fl
and a search was made for the bodi
Lying underneath a heavy timi
OF which had crushed his face was I
So body of Mr.. Harahan. The body
to- Mr. Wright had been driven throu
on four partitions of the coach. that
Mr.. Peirce through three, and Mr. J