The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-06-09

wreckers ready to pick up almost
any kind of a weight, was soon there.
There were new ties and rails at
hand, and a considerable force Of
workers, and these set to work at
once to get the roadway cleared and
a new track built.
Shortly after the wreck occurred,
automobiles began to arrive from
Lake Crystal, Mankato and else
where, and a crowd quickly gathered
around the remarkable. scene. John
Anderson was there, with his cam
era, to get a good view OF the wreck
for The Free Press.
There was just about enough day
light and good weather to enable the
people to get good look at the de-
rallied train. Early in the evening
the rain began, and the crowd slow
ly melted away, loath to quit so in
teresting and unique a scene.
1t is universally agreed that steel
cars saved the people. If the coaches
had been of wood the results would
undoubtedly have been terrible.
Many would have been injured and
some would probably have been
killed, for none of the old fashioned
wooden coaches would have stood
the terrific impact.
The train was steel from end to
end, and as finely equipped and mod
ern as could be found
Witnessed the Wreck.
Mice Alma Olson who resides in
Dukes addition, was one of the very
few persons who witnessed the
wreck. She was driving an auto to
Minneopa state park where she ex-
pected to meet her brother, George,
and bring him home, he having at
tended a picnic at the park. MISS
Olson was approaching Pigeon hill
and saw the train as it was rushing
toward Mankato. Suddenly she no
| ticed that the cars began to wabble
and in two instants the coaches top
Med over almost on their sides. She
heard the noise of breaking steel and
saw the rails as they were torn from
the ties. Miss Olson at once ten
dered the use of her auto to any VINO
| might be injured and needed assist
ance.
Decree of Honor Ladies In Wreck.
| Ladies of the Lake Crystal Degree
of Honor enroute to attend the lodge
meeting in Mankato last night, who
were in the wrecked limited yester-
/ ay afternoon were Mesdames Fl. P.
Hanson, Lou Hanson, Lawrence Han
son, Misses Anna Paulson, Ed3i
Martinson, and Amanda Thorstad'
Mesdames Charles Randall, Anna
Williams, Owens, Charles Clark, Fred
lAustin. Mary Blakely. Minnie Ran
dali. Albert Shelby and Miss Anna
Davis. These ladies were badly
| frightened and shaken, and Mrs.
| Clark was overcome by gas, but is
now reported as doing nicely. Only
abcut six Of these ladies remained
for the meeting, as the people OF
Lake Crystal heard OF the wreck and
were greatly worried, five automo-
biles coming down from that town
| to take the ladies' home. Mesdames
Finnegan, w. Wrightson. Morris, W
10. Hughes, ard r. Martinson and
Charles Davis, came here en- No IL
and Misses Molly Williams and Nora
Austin made the trip by automoDlte
thus escaping being caught IN the
wreck.
Passengers Were Transferred.
! Passenger Train No. Z came from
the twin cities at eight O'Clock last
evening and went to the place of the
wreck Here some passengers were
transferred to another train on the
other side of the wreck and went or
their journey. The equipment was
taken back to Mankato. Many of the
passengers spent the night in Man
kato.
No. / came from the north later in
/ the night. That train went over the
Northwestern to New Ulm, starting a.
1875 p. M, and thence went to st
James over the Minneapolis and st
Louis road. a'5r
No. IL, which went southwest a.
1875 this morning, took many of tht
people that passed the night at Man.
kato, having come here ON No. las
evening. By the time No. II went
the new. track was built around thu