The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-18
STATE PROBE OF
up. WRECK MAY
BE ORDERED SOON
Public Utilities Commission i'm
Conference Over Action.
Fix Blame on Cause of Disaster
That Killed IL.
WET WEATHER is BLAMED
Railroad Investigation Clears
Action of Employees.
Reward for Discovery of Lost
Baby Is Offered Today.
IARGE NIT HEI1 I'M STREAM
Railroad Investigation Clears
Action of Employees.
Reward for Discovery of Lost
Baby Is Offered Today.
LARGE NET HELD IN STREAM
Possibility That Another Body
May Have Been Lost.
Motor Car Is Raised and Traf-
fic Will Be Resumed Today.


A conference was held late today by
the members of the public utilities
commission on the question of holding
an investigation of the Union Paclf1c
wreck Saturday at Randolph, Kan: Ii
Senator J. L. Bristow, chairman OF the
commission, deems 1t necessary TO IN
vestigate the causes of the disaster 1T
will be done at once. The gas hearing
will occupy the attention of the com
mission this week, but the Randolph
trouble may possibly interfere with the
hearing.
The Union Pacific report of the
wreck in which eleven lost their lives
has been made in the form of the
board of public inquiry. This board,
composed of business men and railway
officers, looked into the matter thor
oughly Sunday and decided that no
blame can be placed on any fndivid-
ualS for the accident but that 1T was
due to the heavy rainfall of the year
gradually washing away the dirt be-
meath the surface of the track
An inspection trip made over the
line by the superintendent two weeks
ago showed that it was in good con-
dition. Friday nights rain was given
as the direct cause.
One feature brought out at RAN
dolph today fully accounted for sew
eraI persons believed missing. No
trace Of them had been found since
the wreck but today they were found
neighboring towns.
Reward for Child
The Union Pacific has offered re-
ward for the recovery of the One-year-
old child of Mrs. Emma Denlinger of
Frankfort, Kan. dispatch from
Randolph this afternoon states that
when the accident occurred Mrs. Den
Hnger was holding the baby in her
arms. The child was hurled from the
mother and disappeared into the front
end CT the car which filled fast with
water. Mrs. Denlinger and a five
year-old baby were rescued.
The identity of a man previously
believed to have been M. ]. Stocks of
Hays, Kan, today was established as
Alexander kosma of Hays. Relatives
who believed Kosma n passenger on
the wrecked car came here and made
the Identification.
Heavy Rains Blamed.
The heavy rains of the spring and
summer did as much to cause the
Union Pacific wreck at Randolph,
Kan Saturday as anything else, ac-
cording to the report of the board of
public inquiry, consisting of two juno
ton City business men and several
Union Pacific officials. The rain Fri
day night capped the climax and
caused the disaster. No one can be
blamed for the wreck, the board as
serts, and the members declare that
the section foreman and others were
conscientious in carrying out their
duties
The report of the board was wired
this morning to r. w. Blair, of To-
peka, general attorney of the road. 1t
follows:
Randolph. Oct. IA board of
public inquiry consisting, of the un-
II. 1913 went over ground and
bridge at point of accident and in
statements from various railroad en-
ploy pi0yees, st and and find find folloWing oMia was was
bridge where
the board convened that the soil on
north bank of Fancy creek. west of
railroad bridge, has been thoroughly
season Of T5i i9i5 % which has rin Continued @
almost necessarily since about July
1, and has been subject to encroach-
watershed of this stream during
night of October 10. the nature of
der ordinary conditions. evidenced by
i. 800 feet West Of north abutment
Sefng apparently cut away by strong
distance of so feet north and south
and 200 feet east and west. resulting
in strong current being delivered at
right angles to embankment directly
west of north abutment. opinion OF
the board from the evidence that
every precaution had been exercised
and that the men whose duty it was
to look after track and bridges had
Of that duty Board wishes especial
ly to commend the conductor and
motorman of derailed motor car for
their presence of mind and courage
in saving lives of passengers
THOMAS KENNEDY.
president First National Bank June
ton City.
&c A. ROCKW ELL,
president Rockwell Grain Co,
Junction City
''Chief Engineer U. F. II. Il. Co,
@CHARLES WARE.
raj Mar srfsr X
Omaha, Neb.
'sMechanical Engineer L. z. r.. r. Co,
Omaha, Neb.
superintendent L. p. r.. Il. Co,
Omaha, Neb.
superintendent u p. II. r. Co, Kan
sas City, Mo-.
Trying to Find Body.
Randolph, Kan, Oct. 1S.-A large
party of men this morning spent sew
eral hours at the scene of the Union