Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-09-03
ROCK ISLAND WRECK
KILLS 2; INJURIES IS
Passenger From Decorah Monday
Afternoon Jumps Track Near
Oelwein.
THREE DEBORAH PEOPLE
ARE AMONG THE INJURED
Miss Clarissa HOvey, Ed. Black, EX-
press Messenger and VIM. j.
Cooley, Mail Clerk, Sus.
tain Injuries.

tain Injuries.
Monday afternoon at 1886 O'Clock
the Rock Island passenger train,
running from Decorah to Cedar
Rapids, jumped the track about two
miles south of Maynard and three
miles north of Oelwein, while going
about thirty-five miles per hour,
and the entire train rolled over and
down a ten foot embankment, killing
two men and injuring thirty-five pas
sengers.
The train left Decorah in charge
of Conductor Walters and Engineer
Crawford, and was running along
steadily, when suddenly it left the
track and rolled down the embank-
ment. 1t is impossible to tell just
what caused the accident, but it is
believed that the rails spread and
threw the train off the track. The
whole train turned over and it is
exceedingly fortunate that there
were no more fatalities. J. Hep
worth, boiler maker in the Great
Western shops at Oelwein, was in the
smoker and when the train left the
track started to jump out of the
window, but was caught and crush
ed to death as the car rolled over on
that side. He was man about six
ty years of age. John Proctor, of
Leota, Kansas was quite severely
crushed and injured and died
a few moments after being TAX
en- from the wreck. Thirty-five OF
the passengers were more or less in
jured, some of them severely. and
several deaths have been reported,
but it is believed that only two ia
talities will result.
Miss Clarissa Hovey, of Decorah,
who is employed as stenographer for
Powell & Randall. Cedar Rapids at
torneys, had been visiting here, and
was on her way back to Cedar Rap
ids, with a gentleman friend who
had been here with her. She sus-
tanned a severe scalp wound and a
broken collar bone, and was taken
to the hospital at Oelwein, where her
injuries received attention. She re-
turned to Decorah last evening, and
will remain here until she recOvers.
VIM. j. Cooley, mail clerk, OF this
city, was thrown across his car and
against a pipe one and one-half in
ches in diameter with sufficient
force to break it, still he says he is
not injured enough to quit work.
He was bruised up quite badly, but
was one of the first to get out and
assist in helping the passengers out
of the cars. He helped to get Miss
Hovey out of the car. He says that
the children crying for their parents,
and mothers for their children was
more distressing than the groans OF
the injured. His assistant, J. D.
Lawrence of Cedar Rapids, received
severe injuries to his leg and hip and
was taken to Cedar Rapids hos
pital.
The other Decorahian in the wreck
was Ed. Black, express messenger,
who received severe confusion on
the forehead by striking something
and his arm was badly wrenched, sc
that he is unable to work. He came
home Monday night.
C. C. Clifton, brakeman, well
known in Decorah. though badly in.
jured. ran two miles to Maynard to
call for help, and tainted as he
reached the town. He had some
ribs broken and other injuries.
The dead:
JOHN PROCTOR, Leota. Kan.
j. HEPWORTH, Oelwein.
The injured:
Engineer w. w. Crawford of Ce-
dar Rapids, badly scalded. He was
left at the Mccoy farmhouse neal
the scene of the wreck.
Fireman A. Henning of Cedar
Rapids, slightly scalded.
Conductor A. M. Walter OF Cedar
Rapids, head injured.
Brakeman C. c. Clifton OF Cedar
Rapids, bruised.
Baggageman f. C. Block, Cedar
Rapids, slightly injured.
Mail clerk Lawrence, slightly In
jured. 100 ,,...
avenue west, Cedar Rapids, back In
jured. 80 .o
Cedar Rapids. wv.
Mrs. Frank Meyers and son, wa
verify. Son injured on hip. MRS
Meyers suffering from shock.