The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-22

south of Centralia but because or NO
Is being late, No. met it at Kin
mundy. 1t is said no 1agn1an went
back from No. 25.
Harahan recently retired from the
presidency of the Illinois Central road
on a pension. Melcher lived at Win
netka, Ill, and PIERCE in ---ghland
Wright resided in Memphis. Residents
of Kinmundy, a town of 1,500 inhabit-
ants opened their doors to succor the
injured soon after the news spread OF
the wreck. The crashing of the en-
CINE into the private car was heard
for several blocks.
Engineer Robert Stuart and Fire
man Vert of the limited were the
two trainmene injured. Both are from
Champaign and were taken to their
homes. Stuart was cut and bruised
and Vert's leg was broken: The
bodies of the dead were taken through
there this morning to Chicago. Grant
Scattering. deputy coroner of Marion
county, will preside at the inquest.
The cause of the wreck is ascribed
to scarcity of water along the road. A
special order makes it necessary Tor
all trains to take water at kinmundy
and a freight train that took water
before the express, held the express
longer than customary.
Stuart and Vert were freight crew
lately put on a passenger train IL IS
believed they forgot the order Tor all
trains to take water. The hagman OF
No. % did not have time to nag the
limited.
Tower Man Is Blamed.
The accident occurred half block
north of the Kinmundy depot Inc
engine of the limited went half way
through the private car, splintering it.
The four men who escaped were in the
front of the car and crawled through
the openings made by the engine. The
bodies of the four dead were mutllateu-
The top of the head of Mr.. Harahah
was torn off. The arms of most or the
victims were torn off and a doctor re-
ported the legs are held on by shreds.
Mr.. Harahan's body was perhaps mu-
tilated more than the others
The responsibility for the wreck was
placed on the tower man at EdgeWoou
by Henry J. Broecker, fiagman of train
No 25 at the inquest which began mere
shortly before noon. He testitled the
towerman should have blocked NO 8.
for ten minutes. The inquest pfopaply
will be continued to allow the injured
trainmen who were taken to Cham
paign to testify The fireman of No.
25, Jesse Gilbert, who was standing on
the tender, was thrown to the ground
and suffered internal injuries.
The two trains were combined after
the wreckage was cleared away and
proceeded south. Broker testified at
the inquest that he left his car and
went to flag the other train.
IT ran back with my white and red
lantern" he testified, land gave En-
gineer Stuart the signals. He answered
by whstling showing that he caught
the signals but it seemed to be too late
for him to stop his engine"
The responsibility for the wreck, ac-
cording to the deputy coroner lies be-
tween Broecker and the engineer of the
Bodies Horribly STutiIated.
The bodies of the dead were horri-
bly, mutilated. the top of Mr.. Hara-
hans head being torn off. Most OF the
victims lost their arms. The bodies OF
three victims were taken to Chlcago'
where they lived
Mr. Wright's body was forwarded TO
Memphis. At a coroner's inquest the
flagman, Henry Broecker OF Chlcag9,
and Tagged the limited and received
an answer that his signal had been
observed A minute later the train
crashed into the express, which was
The hagman also testified that in his
opinion the towerman at Edgewood
failed to hold No a sufficient length
of time All trains are under orders
to stop at Kinmundy for water
Three trainmen, Engineer Robert
Stuart and Fireman G. V. Bert of the
limited. and Fireman Jesse Gilbert of
the express, were injured.
The engine of No 8 ploughed its way
through the private car, which it de-
mClished.
Sketch of Mr.. PIERCE.
Chicago. Jan Pc. B. PIERCE was
born in Mississippi 40 years ago lie
received his education in his native
state and began the practice OF law IN
Little Rock, Ark. For several years he
was assistant to the general counsel
for the Choctaw. Oklahoma & Gulf
railroad which in 1902 was taken over
by the Rock Island system. Mr.. PIERCE
irnnediately entered the law depart
+1,a system
made commerce counsel in 1907. Two
Years ago he became general solicitor.
He was a member of the University
and Union league clubs. His home was
in winnetka. He is survived by a
widow, one son and a daughter
From Water Boy to President.
James T. Harahan was born at Low
ell Mass, in 1913. He worked his way
in the railroad world from water boy
to president. His first employment was
with the Orange & Alexandria railroad
at Alexandria, Va. subsequently he
was with the Nashville & Decatur rail-
road at Nashville. Tenn. with which he
held various positions. He then became
superintendent of the Louisiana &
Northern railroad, with headquarters
at New Orleans.
For many years he was general man
ager of the Illinois Central railroad,
being made its president in November,
1906. after the late E. H. Hartman had
secured control, succeeding StuyVeSant
, Fish. He was retired by the Illinois
Central on a pension a few months
ago. He was succeeded as president by
c. H Markham.
E B. Peircs was general solicitor of
the Rock Island. with offices in the
Rock Island station in this city. His
home was in Highland Park, suburb
of Chicago.
MFR. MeIcher's Career.
Frank Otis Melcher. who was born in
Maine in 1864 and graduated from
Tufts college in 1887 entered the rail-
way service as an assistant in the en-
gineers corps of the Pittsburg railway.
| He was SUCCESSFULLY instrument man,