Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-01-23
INVESTIGATION IS Started
SPECIAL CAR CONTAINING OF
FICIALS TELEsCOPED BY EN-
PRESS FROM REAR END.
ALL were PROMINENT MEN
Az Railroad Men Shocked by the
Snuffing Out of High Officials Of
Illinois Central and Rock Island

CENTRALIA, H., Jan. 22.- The
state of Illinois, the coroner of Mar on
county, and the Illinois Central rail-
road company itself today began a
three-fold investigation of the fatal
collision on that railroad in which
early today four men, high In the ra J.
road world, were killed at Kinmundy,
thirty miles northeast of here. in II
private car of wood construction, at
tached to the train No. 25 the New
Orleans express, four men were in
stantly killed, four other men 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 en-
gine plowing through No. l3 Panama
express, running fifty miles an hour.
The dead:
Those Who Were Killed.
James Harahan, OF Chicago. former
president of the Illinois Central.
Frank Melchoir, second vice presi-
dent Of the Rock Island, whose car
was crushed.
E. b. Pierce, general counsel of
the Rock Island.
Eldridge Z. Wright, vice-president
of Rock Island bridge company, and
son of Luke f. Wright, former sec
retary of war.
The trainmen injured are: Robert
Stuart, eng neer of the limited; c. ].
Bert, fireman of the limited; Joseph
Gilbert, fireman of the express.
They were taken to their homes in
Champaign. Bert has fractured
skull; Gilberts hip was broken and
Stuart is suffering from conclusion
of the brain.
Car Was Telescoped.
The heavy engine, drawing a solid
train of steel sleeping cars ploughed
half way through the private car. The
four other occupants. Byron b. Curry.
secretary to Vice President Melchoir;
Thomas Busbee, local attorney of the
Rock Island at Little Rock. Ark, and
twot others escaped with bruises.
Witnesses We're examined by dep
uty coroner and the inquest was con-
tinued until Friday to enable the
crew of the engine of the limited to
testify.
The deputy coroner expressed the
opinion that the responsibility lies be-
tween Engineer Stuart of the limited
and Fagman Henry G. Brocker, of
the express who lives in Chicago.
Bodies Were Mutilated
The bodies of the four victims were
mutilated. Their arms were torn off
and the top of Harahan's head was
cut away. The car ives reduced to
junk. Friends of the officials took
the bodies of Mr.. Harahan and Mr..
Pierce to Chicago. Mr.. Wrights body
was taken to Memphis, his home.
Brocker, testifying at 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, he ran back with his
lantern and when as far as city
block to the rear, gave the onrushing
limited signal lie testified his sig
nal was answered by the engineer by
TWO DldStS OF tne whistle.
Passengers Only Bruised.
Stuart, II was said, applied the
brakes, but the train was going at too
great a speed to be stopped. The
force of the collision was so great that
the standing train. with brakes locked,
was showed 200 feet ahead.
Passengers on each train escaped
with slight bruises caused by the sud
den stopping of the trains. Physic-
ians who were takeen TO Kinmundy
from here gave all of their attention
to the three trainmen.
Supt. w. X. Baxter of the Illinois
Central arrived here today and said
the road will hold a public hearing to
determine the cause of the collision.
A. II. Liman, inspector, visited the
scene tonight and will make his re-
port tomorrow when the boards hear
ing will be begun. Testimony at the
inquest will be used by the state
board.
CHICAGO, ILL.,. Jan. 22.-No funeral
arrangements for the victims Of the
Illinois Central wreck at Kinmundy,
Ills, today had been made tonight
The bodies of James L. Harahan, for
mer president of the Illinois Central;
+. o. Melchoir, second vice-president
of the Rock Island lines and Il. B.
Pierce. general secretary of the Rock
Island railroad. arrived here on a
special train this evening. Leading
railroad officials escorted the bodies
cf Harabau md Malphnir from tha
station to the homes of the decedants
of the families.
The body Of Mr.. Pierce was later