The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-05-07
EMPLOYEES AND PAS
SENGERS INJURED
Crash of Two Northwestern
Trains Came With Awful
Suddenness
OPERATOR JOE TAUER
BLAMED FOR WRECK,
SAID MARTIN J.BOYLE
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l
Winona, Mimi, April 2s.-The
man responsible for the wreck on
the Chicago and Northwestern
railway near Lamberton early this
morning in which five persons
were killed, is Operator Joseph
Tauer Of Sanborn, according to
Martin J. Boyle, superintendent OF
the Minnesota division OF the road
with OFFICES in this city.
"The blame for the wreck"
said Mr.. Boyle this afternoon,
belongs to the operator at San
born, Joseph Tauer. Tauer forgot to
give the engineer and conductor
of the westbound train orders to
take the siding at West Wye,
about a mile west of Sanborn,
where the eastbound train was to
have passed. As a result, the
westbound train continued on to-
ward Lamberton, and a most re-
grettable wreck followed" said
Mr.. Boyle.
Tauer's home, according to sup
erintendent Boyle Is at Spring.
field, MINI.
A train was made up this side of the
wreck and ran east arriving at Man
kato about eleven o'clock. On board
this train, which was in charge Of
those injured in the wreck. Among
these was Engineer B. J. Curry Of
Waseca and Fireman w. H. Niessne,
also of Waseca, who were pulling
train No. SIT when the crash occurred.
Engineer Curry stated to a represen-
tative of The Free Press that as soon
as he saw the headlight of train No.
516 he ana Fireman Niessne jumped
through the cab windows and thus
saved their lives Engineer Curry
escaped with a number of severe
shoulder dislocated in the fall to the
ground when he leaped from the en-
CINE.
Bert Olson of Sisseton, S. D., stated
that he was sitting in the smoking
SIC, Just 5fie seat
back of Conductor Edward Clark
When the crash came he was thrown
forward with great force and received
many bruises on the head, and is
complaining of stiff neck. He says
that the crash came so suddenly that
he remembers little about it.
Thrown Forward With Crash.
l.. e. Hudson of st. James was on
train No. SIT. He says that he was
thrown forward when the crash came
but escaped with but minor injuries.
He stated that both engines wele
completely teleScoped.
c. R. Riley of Minneapolis was
sleeping on train No. SIG when the
wreck occurred He also called at
tention to the great force with which
the, engines struck, which complete
ly demolished both locomotives.
]. H. and +. A. Broderick of Wi
mona, two brakemen un Train No. %.
are suffering from wrenched backs
and bruises about the head and body.
H. T. Raymond of Winona, express
messenger on train No. SIT, was in
the baggage car at the time of the
crash. He was buried beneath the
baggage and is suffering from badly
sprained back, and is otherwise bruis-
ed. "All l can tell you about the
wreck" said Mr.. Raymond, "is that
it came as one big crash and roar of
escaping steam and splintering wood"
another of the slightly injured who
arrived here about noon. He says that
he was sitting one or two seats be-
hind Conductor Clark when the crash
came. He was dazed by a bump on
the head and remembers little Of
what occurred.
Postal Clerk Injured.
w. ]. Jennings of Winona, a postal
clerk on tr ain No. SIT, was in the
mail car when the wreck occurred.
He stated that he was thrown for
ward with such force that his left ell
bow was dislocated. He also receiv-
ed many severe bruises about the
head and face. Mr.. Jennings stated
that the other two mail clerks in the
car with him, l. B. Keeler, of Winona
and Joseph Freisenger of La Crosse
were more or less injured. Mr.. Keller
suffered dislocated shoulder.
misunderstanding of Orders.
Chicago, April 29.-Chicago and
Northwestern train No. SIT wrecked
in a head-on collision near Lamber-
ton, Mimi, early today, left Chicago
at $3.50 o'clock yesterday morning for
Pierre, S. D. No. SIG, eastbound, left
Pierre last night and was due in
Chicago at 1920 tonight. Reports to
the railroad offices say the wreck
was due to misunderstanding of
orders.