Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-05
Officer Cornelius Meenan and
William Kaiser Electrocuted
in 2. l. S. Yards.
INQUESTS ARE HELD TODAY
Harry Dixon May Have to Have His
Feet Amputated-Trasedy Brings
Sorrow to City.
The Dead:
OFFICER CORNELIUS MEENAN.
WILLIAM KAISER.
Seriously Injured:
Harry Dixon.

Dixon, a young Lad of 16, Officer Cor
nelius Meenan and William Kaiser
were both electrocuted yesterday af-
ternoon about $3.50. The accident hap
pened on the top OF a box car in the
yards of the Rock Island Southern
near the old r. l. & P. round house in
the west end.
Harry Dixon is stiI in a critical
condition. He was taken to St An
thongs hospital and it is the opinion
OF physicians, who were called, that
If he survives the shock, he may be
obliged TO have his feet amputated
HEROIC n9aATHs.
Officer Meenan and Mr.. Kaiser died
heroic deaths. They gave their lives
in an attempt to save a boy who,
with several companions went to the
Rock Island Southern yards to play
They were warned not to climb on
the cars, but persisted In the sport.
The Dixon lad climbed to the top on
Sante Fe box car, which was sup
piled with a metal roof and in some
way came in contact with live wire
which was carrying 1000 volts The
and that IL was rainy, served to make
the wire exceedingly dangerous and
witnesses at the inquest declared that
with high voltage and with weather
conditions as they were yesterday, il
was exceedingly dangerous to be
within a foot or two of the wire.
The facts of the tragedy, as told by
eye-witnesses, are that Kaiser, after
assisting Officer Meenan in rescuing
the Dixon boy, fell back against the
wire. the deadly current which the
wire was carrying striking him in the
back Of the neck, which because of
the damp metal covering of the car,
formed circuit and the entire II 900
volts passed through his body. produc.
iIg death. AS Kaiser fell, he clutch
Cd Officer Meenan's leg, and the CON
tact G, the charged body was fatal to
the officer also. Kaiser died almost
instantly, but Officer Meenan was dy-
irg when placed in the ambulance and
expired on the way TO the hospital
In response to a call from the low
or end to the police station, Officers
Meenan and Kersch responded with
all speed in the police buggy, and ar
irving at the scene, Officer Meenan
without thought of his own danger
quickly mounted the car and under
took the rescue of the Dixon boy.
HOW TRAGEDY HAPPENED.
At the inquest over the remains Of
William Kaiser, which was held this
morning at the O'Malley undertaking
parlors, the real facts of the sad al
fair were given. The first witness was
Frank w. Schell, 2G121a Fifth avenue,
roundhouse employe for the Rock Is
land Southern. He testified that three
or four boys about II year. of age came
and got on an old engine, No. 210. He
ordered them Off the right of way, and
they began TO climb on box cars. Dix,
on went TO the Top of a Santa Fe car
and he called 70 the boys to come
down
The next thing I knew I saw him
fall" said the witness. Il ran and
told the boys to go for a doctor and
call the police. l then went back and
found two men on top of the car.
called to them 10 keep their heads
away from the wire. The officers
came The officers asked if the power
could be shut on. and | said that il
could by going 10 the Fourth street
depot. An officer asked ne if had
a nope or a ladder. I told him that
had and ! went 10 the roundhouse and
got the rope and two ladders When
got back officer Moenan and two
others were on the car. The ladders
were raised, and l cautioned then
again about keeping their heads away
from the wire They lowered the body
CT the boy and his shirt caught on q
ruug OF the ladder. AS the body came
down | caught il In my arms and
heard some one say. My God, MeenaI
IS ctruck' Then another man said
The other fellow is struck, too We
then sent a man TO the station 10 turf
of the rover and took the bodie.
from the CIR.
ANOTHER EYEWITNESS.
W X Daley. 4O3 Fourth avenue. an
other eyewitness followed. He toll,
OF seeing the police wagon going {,
the scene of the accident and of iol
lowing Il out OF curiosity. He told O
helping Jhe officers with a cot an,
OF seeing three men on top OF the cal
rubbing a boy.
There were two ladders at the ca
aud a rope around the boys chest VI
der his arms" SAID the witness. of
Ger Meenan sad 70 me, Let him sit Of
your shoulders the rope is slippint
of The body was then lowered L
the ground. J had taken a step fror
the ladder when ! saw William Kaise
sep backward against the wire.
seemed 10 strike him in the small Q
the back He wilted, and the wire sliI
ped 10 the back Of his head. Their
he hung for fully 80 seconds and the
fell 10 the car As he started to IA
he grabbed at Meenan, catching hir
by the leg. and the officer also fell L
the roof near the edge. When the dot