Bentley, Edward 1894

BENTLEY, NIXON, STRUTT

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

The Clinton Morning Age 09 Jan 1894

CAUGHT IN A CRASH
BAD WRECK AT THE C & N W BRIDGE LAST NIGHT
One Man Fatally and Several Seriously Injured-Narrow Escape of a Dozen

A wreck occurred at the west end of the C.& N.W. railway bridge in this city last night in which a boy was fatally and several men seriously injured.
The accident occurred at about 9:20 o'clock and was caused by a C. B. & Q. passenger train backing into the way car of freight No. 16, of the C. & N. W., going east with stock.
the C. B. & Q. passenger for the north, which is due to leave here at 8:48 p.m., was backing out towards the bridge when the rear coach ran into the way car of the C. & N. W. freight, which was going east over the bridge.
The collision occurred just in front of the little building at the west end of the bridge, used as a telegraph office. So great was the force of the shock that the way car of the freight was thrown over on the telegraph office, completely demolishing the building.
Night Operator George Rowe and Martin Murray, Mat Calahan, John Anderson and Ed. Bentley were in the building, and how any of them escaped instant death is a miracle. All escaped injury save Martin Murray and Ed. Bentley. Bentley was pinioned beneath the debris from which he was removed with great difficulty and conveyed to his home at Ninth avenue and Eight street in the patrol wagon. He is injured internally and it was thought last night that he could not survive until morning. Murray, who has but one leg, was seriously injured about the head and body. He was taken to his home on Elm street.
In the car were seven men, most of whom were with stock on the train. All these men escaped serious injury save Andrew Robertson of Garison Iowa, who sustained a dislocation of his right shoulder and several skight bruises about the body. He was taken to the Windsor Hotel where Dr. G. A. Smith attended his injuries.
Elmer Shafer and a Mr. Kinney, of Garison, and Christie Nelson, of Gordonsville, Minn., who were also in the way car, sustained slight injuries. They were able to be about however, and departed east with the freight at a late hour last night.
The passengers in the coaches of the passenger train were all badley shaken up, but aside from a few slight bruises none were the worse for the collision.
The wrecking crew were called out and within two hours the wreced way car and debris had been removed and the tracks were open to traffic.
Supt. Rizer, and Agent Smullin, of the C. & N. W. and Agent Rodman, of the C. B. & Q. were promptly at the scene of the wreck, using their best endeaveors to locate the blame and seeing that the injured were promptly cared for.

The Clinton Morning Age 10 Jan 1894

Died of His Injuries
Edward I. Bentley, the young man injured in the wreck at the C. & N. W. railway bridge in this city Monday night, died of his injuries at the home of his uncle, Elias Nixon, 731 Ninth avenue, at 3 o'clock Tuesday morning. He was unconscious when taken from beneath the wrecked telegraph office, in which condition he remained until death came to his relief. Deceased was nearly eighteen years old and was an orphan, his parents having died several years ago. Besides his uncles and aunts, Mr. and Mrs. Nixon and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Strutt, and only sister, Miss Daisy, are left to mourn. An inquest will be held on the remains this morning and the funeral will occur from the residence Thursday.
Martin Murray and the others injured in the accident are doing well.

The Clinton Morning Age 11 Jan 1894

Funeral services over the remains of the late Edward Bentley, who was killed at the bridge Monday night, will be held from the residence on Ninth avenue at 10 o'clock this morning.

The Clinton Morning Age 12 Jan 1894

Funeral services over the remains of the late Edward Bentley, the young man killed in the accident near the C & N W railway bridge Monday, were conducted from the residence on Ninth avenue Thursday morning, Rev. G. e. Scott officiating. Many friends and acquaintances of the unfortunate young man were in attendance.