Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-30

Heavy fog and slippery rails were
responsible for a rear-end collision
between passenger train No. 20-the
Pacific Limited, east bound on the
$40 a. m., and an east bound North
western freight train, about one mile
o'clock this morning. A serious and per-
haps Fatal wreck was averted only be-
cause the limited had all air on the
brakes and the engineer was able to
bring the train to a stop in the short
est possible distance considering the
slippery condition of the rails.
The engine of the limited plowed
thru the caboose and derailed
four empty gondolas of the freight
train, scattering wreckage over the
double tracks and tying up traffic on
the road for there hours. The engine
of the limited was badly damaged.
Engineer Misses Signals.
The freight train was protected by
block signal, torpedo, flag and torch,
and it was not until Engineer Jones,
of the limited. saw the last signal Jnat
he realized the situation. The home
block signal was set against the
limited, and the fiagman of the freight
had put out torpedo and flag to pro-
tect his train, but in the fog Engineer
Jones passed the block signal and the
flag. The hagman of the freight train,
l. -, 20 ~ Ing
limited. made a last desperate effort
to prevent collision and with a torch
tagged the enginemen but not in time
to bring the train to a halt before it
struck the standing freight.
When the trains came together,
Engineer Jones said, his engine was
running at speed of about eight
miles an hour.
Flaeman Saves Students.
Realizing the great danger the flag
man first called to two students from
Iowa State College, Ames. who had
been sleeping in the caboose. They
narrowly escaped death by making
hurried exit from the way car. The
boys were enroute to Chicago with
carload of live stock.
Both Engineer Jones, who resides in
Clinton, and his fireman stood to their
posts and both escaped injury. When
he left his engine 1t was discovered
that Jones clothing was on fire. The
flames were extinguished without any
injury to the ensineman.
Engineer Jones said his failure to
see the signals was due to the heavy
fog. He said he had the air on and
was able to bring his train to quick
stop altho the slippery condition of the
rails prevented as sudden a halt as
might have been made under more
favorable conditions.
Passengers Escape Injury.
None Of the passengers of the
limited suffered injury altho bumped
about in their seats when the trains
came together. The engine of the
limited did not leave the track.
There was little left of the caboose
but kindlinS wood and twisted iron.
The gondolas also were badly wrecked.
The freight train was made up out OF
leo cars. 1t had been halted just before
entering the yards and the block was
set against the limited.
The M. & st. l.. wrecker was i'm
mediately ordered to the scene of the
wreck and work of clearing away the
was begun at once. AS a re-
suit of the wreck the fast mail and the
China and Japan Express, west bound,
were tied up in the local yards, and
the Des Moines' passenger a local
east bound train, was held up west of
the scene Of the wreck. The wreck
age was cleared away late this fore
noon and traffic was resumed.