The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-22
Al Onrushing Train Crashed into Car at Kin
mundy, Illinois, and Four Men Meet In
slant Death as Result
m ILLINOIS CENTRAL EARLY IN MORNING
James T. Harahan, Former President Of Road,
Second Vice President of Rock Island and
Two Legal Representatives.

ham has promised complete state
ment OF the company's investigation.
Nothing is known Of the whereabouts
of the flagman of train No. 25, whose
duty is it was to protect the rear of
the train and warn No. 3, the through
train, that the track was not clear.
This man is said to have disappeared
Immediately after the accident.
An investigation.
A coroner's jury was impanelled a.
Kinmundy and an investigation by
county officials there is already In
progress.
p. +. Foley, general manager OF the
road, left here early today for the
scene of the wreck He will have
charge of the company's investigation
A late message to Illinois Central
headquarters here says that E. B.
Curry. secreary to F. O. Melchor or
the Rock Island escaped injury.
| Three members of the train crews
have been taken to the company's hos
pital at Champaign Jesse Gilbert,
fireman Of No. %. was standing ON
! top Of the water tank on the engine
tender when his train was struck. He
was hurled four car lengths by the
force of the collision. Engineer
Robert Stewart and Fireman Vert OF
! No. 8 are suffering from bruises.
Harahan Was over 20.
James T. Harahan, Sr., on his re-
! tirement as president OF the Illinois
4 Central, Jan. 12, 1911, was awarded a
/ pension of $4,000, under the rules of
4 the company. which apply to all err
| nloyes after they reach the age of 20.
Harahan's average salary for the last
10 years has been 100000. He was
president of the road for four years.
Harahan was born Jan. u. 1S41. at
i Lowell, Mass. He began his railway
career as freight clerk for the Bos-
ton and Providence railroad in Boston
i in 1860 or 1861. He served three years
4 with the federal army during the civil
war and then re-entered railroad work
i in the shops of the Orange and Alex,
4 andria railroad at Alexandria, Va.
i After serving in various capacities
for the Nashville and Decatur road
he was placed in charge of a small
i branch line. In 1879 he became divis
4 ion superintendent for the Louisville
and Nashville. Following this he was
i general superintendent of this road
and later occupied the same position
with the Baltimore and Ohio. He was
assistant general manager of the Lake
Shore and later general manager OF
the G.. & o., and the Louisville, New
Orleans and Texas. Nov. /, 1890, he
was elected vice president of the Hi
nois Central. Harahan became presi
dent Of the Illinois Central, succeed
ing Stuveysant Fish after the memor
able Harriman-Fisb controversy in
1906.
An official statement given out by
; the railroad officials declares that nc
passengers except the four killed were
injured. Four others who were in the
private car with them escaped almost
miraculcusly Thomas Busbie, loca
attorney for the Rock Island at Little
Rock, Ark, Byron Curry, secretary tc
IL. o. Melchor, and two colored port
: ers were in the forward end of ths
car asleep when the crash came. The.
! were not even scratched
The statement then says:
"A formal investigation will b,
: conducted as early as practicable to
: day. The board OF inquiry will con
: sist of officials of the company ant
' substantial business men from Cen
r ltralja and Kinmundy''
l The private car, which belonged t
3 the Rock Island road, was known al
). "business car 1t was the onl,
j wooden car in the two trains and t.
this fact is ascribed the escape o
all other passengers from serious in
, iury. Train No. which is known a
the Panama limited is solid stee
a train. This equipment only few
!, months ago was established on th'
i road. When the engine of the Panam,
/. limited plowed through the light wood
en- affair in which the railroad official
! were riding it was brought to stol