ROCK ISLAND JUMPS TRACK

STANLEY, CATHCART, CRAWFORD, DOMAIN, JONES, KEMP, ROCUS-PESS, SWATHER, WEST

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 11/5/2009 at 12:04:06

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, January 30, 1913

The Rock Island's million dollar steel train, No. 12, better known as the
Golden State Limited," due in Allerton at 11:30 p.m. was wrecked just east
of the Allerton depot last Sunday night, while traveling at terrific speed.
One man was killed and nine injured in the wreck.

The dead:

MORGAN STANLEY, Altamont, Mo; died this morning of injuries.

The injured:

CATHCART, J., Altamont, Mo.; knee sprained.
CRAWFORD, R.M., Marseilles, Ill.; bruised and cut.
DOMAIN, HARRY, New York City; head cut and bruised.
JONES, R., Trenton, Mo.; back and hip injured.
KEMP, J.O., Columbus Junction, Iowa; ankle sprained.
ROCUS-PESS, M., St. Joseph, Mo.; back sprained.
SWATHER, W.P., Altamont, Mo.; side crushed, may die.
WEST, HUGH, Altamont, Mo.; back injured.

The wreck was caused by the rear trucks of the engine tender leaving rails
and striking a switch throwing it open, the tender was overturned and
dragged 200 yards, seven steel cars were piled up and the track torn up for
500 yards. It seems miraculous that all the passengers on the train were
not killed, as the cars were piled up in a very bad manner. Probably all
owe their lives to the fact that the cars were built of steel.

In the smoking car where most of the injured were, a steel rail was driven
lengthwise through the car ripping the seats from the floor and piling them
in the car end. Many thrilling escapes are being told.

One man was killed by the rail, while his seat mate was untouched, another
was lying crosswise in the seat behind, resting his head on his grip and
overcoat, the grip was torn to pieces while he was untouched. The injured
were carried to the merchants hotel in Allerton and given medical attention,
while the passengers were transferred to another train and taken over the
Milwaukee by way of Trenton and Saymour. Many from this city journeyed to
Allerton Monday morning and viewed the wreck.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 4, 2009
iggy29@grm.net