Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-24
Investigation Shows Their
Negligence Caused the
Deaths of Officials
DISASTER REPRODUCED
Vice President of Illinois Gen.
traI Takes Party to Scene
to Demonstrate Details.

Chicago, Jan. 24.-Negligence on
the part of three trainmen contrib
uted to the Illinois Central wreck at
Kinmundy, H., Sunday night, in
which prominent railroad officials
were killed, according to a declara-
tion of the investigating committee
today. The trainmen are: Engineer
Stuart of train No. 8, which crashed
into train No. 25; John H. Brainard
conductor of train No. %, and Harry
]. Boecker, flagman of train No. %
PENALTY NOT DECIDED.
Just what steps will be taken in
| the trainmen's case has not been de-
| termined, said W. l.. Park, vice presi-
member of the investigating commit
tee. The report was given out fol
! lowing a thorough investigation of the
wreck yesterday. The committee con
vened in Champaign and later went
over the scene of the wreck. All the
accused trainmen were witnesses.
HAD MEANS OF PROTECTION.
Regarding the alleged negligence ot
the trainmen, the committee said:
1.-The board of inquiry finds the con
ductor and fiagman of train No. %
who, knowing train No. was follow
ing closely, were negligent in no
using the means they had in protect
ing their train
The board also finds the engineer
of train No. was negligent in no
discovering early his proximity Il
train No. 25.'
HAD FUSEE SIGNALS.
The committee says the testimon
showed train No. % was provided wit
fusee signals to space or stop a follow
ing train. Had one been used, it woul
have been seen by the engineer of Nc
8, the committee declares. The CON
mittee also asserts 'it was only afte
train No. 25 stopped that members c
. the crew concerned themselves wit
: No. g." The testimony, according
> the committee, showed the enginee
of No. 8 said he saw no tail lights o
: No. 25; also that when he discovere
No. % it was too late to avoid a co
usion, though he applied the enc
FUNERAL HELD TO-DAY.
=. Chicago, Jan. 24.-Funeral service
were held today for the four railroa
n officials who were killed Monday NOR
ing at Kinmundy.
!, Services for James Theodore Har
= han, former president of the Illino
= Central railroad, were set for 4:30 tn
h afternoon at the residence at SO;
n Michigan avenue. They were to be
:. charge of Rev Herman Page of
d Pauls Episcopal church and Rev. Jol
l. NJ. McGann of Trinity Episcop
3 church.
n The active pallbearers are office
s. of the Illinois Central who served Il
s der Mr. Harahan for many years. The
E. are: Clarence F. Parker, Blewett LIE
lie John C. Kuhns, Burt A. Beck, MortC
P. Blauveit, Charner T. Scaife, Hen
Baldwin and E. G. Cowgirl.
The body will be taken tonight
n Memphis, Tenn, where Mr.. Harah;
- was born. A special train will lea
s the Illinois Central depot at Z:
lg O'Clock. Aboard the train will be me-
II bers of the family. This train will 1
II rive at Memphis at 10 o'clock tome
H. row morning. Final services will
q, held at o'clock in the afternoon.
~ MELCHER FUNERAL At WINNETK
~ The funeral of F. o. Melcher seco
49, vice president of the Rock Island rs
road, was held at Christs EpiscoI
church in Winnetka at o'clock, a
was in charge of Rev. H. F. Webst
acting rector of the church. The pa
bearers were w. P. Sidley, Char
I Fuller, John Boddie, John E. NJ;
Charles |. Sturgis, George X. Owsl'
Hale Holden and r. F. Clinch.
u The body of Z. G. Peirce, gene
- counsel of the Rock Island, was TAX
n Monday night to Fort Smith, Al
I-r the former home of Mrs. Peirce. 7
10 following officials of the Rock Isla
10 were on the train and acted as pt
he bearers at the funeral this afternoC
lie Robert Walker, chairman of the boz
n of directors; j. E. German, first V
ng president; NJ. l. Bell, general att
he ney; Thomas P. Beman assistant e
cir eral attorney; Thomas Busbee. att
to ney in Arkansas; L. NJ Allen, pass
tut ger traffic manager.
cir The body of Eldridge E Wrie
son Of Luke E. Wright, former Sc,