Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-23


200 feet ahead.
Passengers on each train escaped with
slight bruises caused by the sudden stop
page of the trains. Physicians who were
taken to Kinmundy from here gave all of
their attention to the three trainmen.
Conductor John II. Brainard of Chicago.
of the express. corroborated the testimo-
NY of his flagman. At Dillingham;, he tes
titled that he told the hagman that the
limited was less than 10 minutes behind
and TO make a quick run to the rear
when the train stopped at Kinmindy for
water
Indirectly the cold weather may have
been a contributing cause Of the wreck.
All trains are under orders to stop at
Kindmundy for water because of the
shortage Of water along the road, caused
by the cold. \ freight train Immediately
ahead of the express delayed it in get
ting water as soon as expected.
SHpt r. W. Baxter of the Illinois Cen
trail arrived here, today. and said the
road will hold a public hearing TO deter
mine the cause of the collision.
A r. Layman, inspector for the state
Board of Railroad and Warehouse Com
mission, visited the scene, tonight, and
win make his report, tomorrow, after
which the boards hearing will begin.
Testimony at the inquest viii be used by
the state board.
While testifying Brocker said that the
towerman at Edgewoed failed to hold the
limited the fun 10 minutes after the eX-
press had passed, but Supt Baxter said
there is no night operator at Edgewood
Centralia. Ills, jar. 22.-James 7.
Harahan. ST., former president of the
Illinois Central. Frank q. Meleher.
second vice president OF the Rock Is
land. f. 4. PIERCE, general solicitor
Of the Rock Island. and Elbfidge T.
Wright, son Of Luke +. Wright, for
mer secretary of war, We're killed in
collision of Two Illinois Central trains
al Kinmundy. Ill. about 20 miles
from here. early today.
Three trainmen were injured and the
passengers iii the coach were badly
shaken and bruised.
Train No. Is. known as the New Or
leans Express, was taking water NJ
Kinmundy at / o'clock, when train No.
8. the Panama Limited, ran into the
rear of No. %,
The killed were in the private car
of Mr.. Malcher. Their bodies We're
found near the berths they had oc>
cupied.
Four occupants of the private car
escaped death or injury. These are
Byron B. Curry. private secretary OF
Vice President Melcher. Thomas u.
Busbee, attorney for the Rock Island
for the states of Arkansas and Louis
lana, ard two Negro porters-
NJ n
through the private ear which was at
tacned to No % and was stopped by
the steel coaches Immediately pre-
eeding. The impact showed the stand
ing train for a distance down the
tracks, although its brakes We're
locked.
The engineer and fireman of the
Limited were slightly injured. but
were able to take the train south as
soon as the wrecRage was cleared
away.
Relief trains left Centralia for the
wreck intending to bring the injarett
and dead to this place. The Limited
carried sleeping cars only and WITH
stood the terrific smashing. The eX-
press was composed of coaches, balit
of steel. The trains were due TO pass
at Centralia, but because of No. %
being late, No. 3 met it at kinniundE'
Harahan recently retired from the
presidency of the Illinois Central Road
on a pension Melcher lived at VIM
netka. ILL.,, and Pierce in Highland
Park, suburb of Chicago. Mr.. Wright
resided in Memphis.
Residents of Kinmundy, town of
= i,,I.a doors
to succor the injured soon after the
news spread of the wreck.
Engineer Robert Stuart and ---------
Vert, fireman of the limited, were the
two trainmen injured. Both are from
Champaign and were taken TO their
homes. Stuart vas cut and bruised
and Verts leg was broken.
The bodies of the dead were taken
through here, this morning, to Chi
eago.
The accident occurred half a, block
north of the Kinmundy depot. The
engine of the Limited went half way
through the private car, splintering it.
The four men who escaped were in
the forward part of the car. The
bodies of the four dead were mutiiat-
cd
The responsibility for the wreck was
placed on the towerman at Edwood
by Harry j. Broecker, fiagman of
Train %, at the inquest, which began
here shortly before noon. He declared
the towerman should have blocked
No. 8 for 10 minutes. Broecker ella i'm
ed that he went back to flag the other
train.
Il ran back with my white and red
lantern ne testified. and gave En-
sineer Stuart the signals lie midi
Gated by whistles tF.at he caught the
signals, but it seepled TO be too late
for him to stop his engine"
The fireman Of No %, Jesse Gill
bert, who was ste nding on the tender.
was thrown to the ground and suffer
led internal injurie The two trains
We're combined after the wreckage was
cleared away and proceeded south.
j. T. HARAiHAN, JR., INJURED.
n IL