The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-05-07
FIVE PEOPLE KILLED IN F4EAD-ON "".
SMASH ON NORTHWESTERN ROAD
LIFE IS SAVED WHEN
THROWN TO FLOOR
H.E.Pomadt Relates Experiences
On IIl-Fated Train This
Morning


sengers on Inflated train No. SIC, and
was sitting in the smoker but short
distance from Conductor Edward
Clark when he was killed.
Mr.. Pomadt says that the train left
Lamberton twenty FIVE minutes late
and was running at very high rate
of speed. The first intimation of
something wrong was given the pas
sengers when the air was suddenly
applied, and an instant later the
lights went out and the roaring
crash came. Then it seemed to Mr..
Pomadt that the timbers in the car
all seemed to break up and fly in
every direction. He was reclining on
his sample case at the time and was
thrown to the floor of the car, which
he thinks saved his life, for several
timbers shot above him as he lay
PROSTATE on the floor He soon re-
gained his feet and began to assist
those who had been pinned down by
the flying timbers and seats. He aided
in extricating man from beneath
the seat. Conductor Clark was found
pinned up against the side of the car,
still breathing but unconscious. He
died moment after being extricated
from the timbers. Four others pinned
down benath timbers were also aided.
Engineer Fuller, On Wreckage.
Mr.. Pomadt says that Engineer AL
bert Fuller lay In the midst of a mass
of wreckage of the engines. Fireman
Earl Larson of Waseca was found
pinned between two cars near the
tender of the locomotive. When the
wrecked baggage car caught fire the
body was burned. This was terrible
sight. Mr.. Pomadt says
MIR. Pomadt says that the screams
of the women, and the cries of the
injured who at once tegan to call for
help was beyond description. The
severely injured were taken back to
Tracy. Two professional nurses who
happened to be on the train, but
whose names Mr.. Pomadt does not
know, did some fine work in bandag-
ing up the wounds of the injured. Mr..
Pomadt is suffering from badly
wrenched back. He states that it is
an experience he will remember as
long as he lives.
Mr.. Pomadt says that Stanley
the lien Candy company, was or
Mr.. and Mrs. Carl Strand and chill
dren of Atlemans, Wis, were on
train No. 516, but luckily escaped in
jury. They are now in this city as the
guests Of Mr. Strands na.rentsr-M NJ
nd Mrs. Alex Strand.
Remains Shipped to Mankato.
Lamberton, Mimi, April 29.-Ed-
ward Clark's body was shipped late
today to relatives in Mankato for
burial. Ef
Clark Instantly Killed.
Conductor Edward Clark of Winona,
in the baggage coach of the west
bound train, also was instantly killed,
and A. FeltZ, car repairer of Tracy,
Mimi, and E. w. Augustine, Pioneer,
Ohio, in the smoker OF the eastbound
train, were crushed to death. The
were taken to Tracy this morning,
and most of the injured were brought
here. H. Enke of Lake Benton, Mimi,
sustained two fractured ribs, but none
of the other injured were badly hurt.
The trains are known locally as
Omaha" railroad trains but really
belong to the Chicago and North
western. railroad. Trains number SIG
and SIT, the two in the collision, run
Su1CdSO 10 ~.
Statement of Rail Officials.
At Sanborn, railroad officials said
that it would be impossible to place
the responsibility for the wreck. A
careful investigation of all orders is
sued and the manner in which they
We're handled has been checked.
The fire which started shortly
after the cars piled on top of the two
engines burned itself out after the
one wooden car, the only one OF that
type in the two trains, had been
consumed. The steel cars were but
slightly damaged.
Those hurt received only minor in
juries. Niesser, fireman on No. SIT
was injured about the head and Shout
ders when he jumped. Currey, who
jumped with him was not hurt beyond
being shaken.
Passengers Suffered From Bruises.
The passengers suffered from bruis-
es received when thrown to the floor
of the car from berths and seats. They
were removed to hospitals at Tracy
and Mankato. Hurried examinations
made by physicians rushed from this
place showed that none had received
hurts of a decidedly serious nature.
Enke was the only person whose
bones were broken, he having two
fractured ribs
Only a small strip of track was
damaged. The front end Of both
trains piled up in two car lengths of
track, but it will require at least
twenty-four hours to clear the wreck
age and place the roadbed and rails
IN shape to resume traffic.
The hour at which the wreck oc-
Cured Is thought to have been re
sponsible for the few persons who
were injured. The majority of pas
sengers were in their Derths or COM
partments. Only a few occupied the
forward coaches according to train