Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-13
CHAS. LINDEN CAUGHT
between WAY CAR
AND ENGINE
DEATH WAS INSTANT.
UNFORTUNATE MANS HEAD
SMASHED ALMOST TO UNREC-
OCNlZABlB MASS-TWO KILL
Ed THIS MORNING IN CRASH AT
MORRIS.

A rear end collision between an
incoming switch train and south
bound way-freight on the c.. B. x q
last night in Ottawa resulted in the
instantaneous death of Charles Lin
den, aged 80, who has a wife and four
small children residing in Shabbona
Illinois
The smash-up occurred on the Sci
berling switch when the freight. No
81, was getting off the main line to
clear the way for the 1920 o'clock pas
senger and backed into the switching
train, which unfortunately was just
coming into town from the factories
and sand pits, west of town
Linden, who was standing on the
rear platform of the caboose, was
caught by the engine before he real
lied his danger, tho Orrie Mcintyre,
companion. warned him to jump
when II was seen a collision was i'm
pending Whether Linden heard the
warning or whether he believed him.
selft out of danger. will never be
known. He failed to heed the alarm
and was seen to brace himself as the
to ward of the crash. When the two
trains came together he was caught
In between the engine and way-car
in such a manner that his head was
crushed almost into an unrecognlz-
able mass. His body was caught be
tween the iron railing and badly
crushed.
Mcintyre jumped to safety and
came out OF the smash-up without any
injuries. Brakemen of the switching
crew were on the footboard of theil
engine and saw the backing freight
In time to leap to safety. When the
wreckage was cleared away It was
found neither caboose nor switch en-
gine were very badly damaged
Lester Norman was the engineer il
charge of the switch engine and h,
stated he did not see the freight com
ing in ahead of him until It was al
most on top of him. He applied tn,
brakes and tried TO stop his train
When the crash came neither train
II was said at the inquest this morn
ing, was going faster than four mile
an hour
The principal witness was Mcintyre
who said he was braking on way
freight No 81 and was standing be
side Linden on the rear platform
when the collision occurred. Th'
switching train he said was three o
four car length away when he frs
saw it and he signalled ahead to hav
the engineer stop the freight In
second he felt the air applied. bu
this step was not taken soon enough
to bring the train to a halt The light
of one of the members of the switcl
crew first attracted his attention, h
said When ! saw a wreck could no
be averted | called to Linden to jun
but he did not make any move t
reach safety.
The trip resulting fatally to tn
brakeman was his second in his C;
reer He formerly worked at Shall
Gently was sent out onto the line I
work with experienced crews. In hi
pockets was found letter from h
little son asking him to send none
with which to buy school books TT
letter told Of two other children beir
well, while friends say Linden W.
the father of another baby who wi
with the mother.
An inquest was held this mornn
the jury returning verdict of acc
dental death. l.. A. Wilson, condu
tor, and Tom Morrissey engineer {
the local freight could throw no ligl
\ on the case, neither Of them havil
witnessed the accident.
The body will be shipped to Sha
bona for burial.
Two Killed at Morris.
Morris Oct. 13,--Henry Rughro
engineer and II. s. Arendt, he
brakeman on fast freight, recev
wounds this morning from which tn
later died as the result of rear-on G.
lislon two blocks west of the lot
station.
An eastbound freight that had g
ten or the main line to permit I
passenger going thru Ottawa at 3.
q. m. to pass, was responsible for I
wreck. When the freight was bel
pulled across the main line to It's o,
tracks, the freight engineered
Rughroff, tore down upon il VIII