Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-12
AIR FAIL IRE
CAUSED WRECK
RRAkING POWER FAILED ON
ENGINE AND TRAIN CRASHED
INTO A DERAIL SWITCH
CLOSED BLOCK.

Burlington Train Had Crossing and
Milwaukee Freight Coming Down
Hill Could Not Stop; Rock
Island Trains Blocked
The failure of the air brakes to take
effect on Milwaukee freight train NO
67 as it rumbled down the west end
grade into Ottumwa Sunday morning
at $3.50 o'clock caused wreck that
will run into thousands of dollars ex'
pense to the railroad company. No one
was injured. The engine complete
wreck and eight cars of various kinds
of merchandise scattered with their
contents to the right and left of The
track they were derailed from, pre-
sented an interesting spectacle OF
destruction to thousands of Ottum-
vans yesterday. The train was In
charge of Conductor Charles Farley
and Engineer Oliver Clark.
Air Brake Failed.
! The train, No. 81, en- route from
Nahant to Ottumwa, was about to
enter the junction yards and had al
most reached the base Of the steep
grade near the Second street crossing
when Engineer Clark found the block
signal against him, a Burlington train
having the right of way over the
crossing. Applying the air, 1t was
found that defect had occurred IN
the system and the emergency braklng
| force was powerless to stem the
| impetus the heavy freight train re-
ceived from the steep hill west OF the
| city. Having tested the air by a trial
application at what is known as the
brick plant switch some distance up
the hill from the crossing, the en-
gineer was at loss to account for the
failure of the air to work He con-
tinued his efforts with the air until
after having taken the derail switch
Just north Of the Rock Islands right
of way, when he jumped to safety
from the engine as it was in the act OF
topping over. #r.s
Fireman Ed. Suydam, when he real
lied that the train was beyond control
and likely to be ditched on the siding,
jumped from the engine after 1t passed
over Second street and entered the
derail track, and like Engineer Clark
was uninjured by the wreck.
The board being against No. 81, the
derail was automatically set by the
tower man In giving the right Of way
to the Burlington train and as No. 81
came down the grade the train ran IN
on the derail switch. w..
Car In Back Yard.
Within 100 yards of the main line
one Of the cars left the rails of the de-
rail track and thus rode for some dis
lance, when the rail nearest the Rock
Island track snapped under the strain.
Realizing that he was no longer OF
service to the train. Engineer Clark
jumped to safety upon hearing the
snap Of the broken rail, and none too
soon for the engine Immediately set
tied on it's right side, having toppled
over until it was on it's side on the
Rock Island tracks. The on rush Of the
train tore the tender OF the engine
from it's mornings and threw it to the
north Of the tracks. The next car be-
ing filled with farm implements was
shunted still further to the north and
at the rear Of the tender, taking cut
houses, chicken coops, tree, ana
sheds in it's path and brought up
against the rear Of dwelling occu-
pied by John o. Lundgren at 1924
West Main street. Dead chickens, shed
roofs, tubs, a washing machine, go
cart and divers other things that had
been stored in the wood shed at The
rear Of the Lundgren home were
mixed up in a mass of wreckage be-
meath and to the sides Of the stranded
car which stopped just In time to save
demolishing the house.
Wreckaoe Scattered. =
lot
largely of household goods, some OF
which were consigned to Ell Paso.
Texas, was next, and this car was
telescoped by the engine which was
buried to the depth Of it's cab IN the
fore part Of the car A car Of potatoes
came next, but beyond the loss Of its
trucks and some minor scratches, it
did not appear much the worse for
the experience. The potatoes were
transferred by men and vans to an
other car lying near the Box Car
Loader plant, where they were later
picked up by yard engine and taken
over to the yards. Scattered on all
sides of the wreck we're lot Of gaso-
line engines that had filled one of the
wrecked cars.
I A car load Of condensed milk with
q stock car laden with posts added to
the variety. A car of plain doors and
two cars Of coke dust or slack COM
pleted the list of wrecked cars.
Rock Island Blocked.
Although the wreck occurred to q
Milwaukee train, the Rock Island road
was the chief sufferer In point OF
blocked traffic. The right Of way of
the Milwaukee was clear, but not so
with the Rock Island. The fact that
the Milwaukee's derail switch Is on
Rock Island ground and runs parallel
to the Rock Islands lines, made the
full force OF the blockade to be borne
by the Rock Island. Four Of It's
freight trains had to be detoured and
two Of it's passenger trains were also
sent around. The freight trains were de-
toured via the M. & st. L., and Mil
waukee to Washington where they
lzaJr <h> TcJord 1inoo and ono 0f