Railroad Accident 1895

WARNER, ELLIS, KIMBRO, GOSNELL, FISHER, HEFFELFINGER, MANVILLE, APPLEGATE, AKIN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/20/2011 at 11:58:56

RAILROAD ACCIDENT

One Man Killed, Three Others Injured and Cars Badly Wrecked

One of the most disastrous wrecks that ever occurred on the B., C. R. & N. Ry. happened in the yards at Grundy Center last Sunday evening about 7:15 o'clock. The particulars of which are about as follows: Freight train No. 67, west bound, was pulling into town with orders not to stop at the depot. The engine had a snow plow on and as they approached the switch it is generally supposed that some part of the plow struck the switch and turned it throwing the train on the side tracks where several cars were standing and the train run into them at a speed of twenty-five miles per hours, demolishing eight cars and badly wrecking four other cars.

Messrs Thos. Warner and Geo. F. Ellis saw the train coming in and heard the crash when it struck the freight cars standing on the side track. They hurried to the scene of the disaster and discovered Engineer Kimbro in the cab of the engine with a broken leg. They assisted him to the depot and then went back to the wreck and found Fireman Gosnell carrying snow and throwing it on the fire in the engine, notwithstanding the fact that his ankle was badly dislocated. Wm. F. Fisher, the head brakeman, who was killed, was found on the south side of the track with a stick of wood in his head and a portion of one of the trucks across his neck and shoulders. At the time the accident occurred the fireman was on the tender in the act of throwing coal and Fisher was occupying his seat in the cab. It is not improbable that when he jumped from the engine he struck the timber that penetrated his head which must have caused instant death. The fireman jumped and Mr. Kimbo started to follow him but as timbers were flying in the air he concluded to stay with the engine. His leg was broken by being struck by the lever after the engine left the track.

In the absence of Dr. Crouse the railroad physician, Dr. Heffelfinger was called and dressed the wounds of the injured men. The remains of Mr. Fisher were prepared for burial by DeSeelhorst & Morse and were taken to Cedar Rapids on the night train and the funeral was held on Wednesday afternoon. The engineer and firemen were also taken to Cedar Rapids. Conductor Manville was in the way car and received a severe cut in the face. There were three tramps in the third car from the engine, but they escaped without injury and were too badly frightened to render any assistance in taking care of those who were wounded.

The wrecking crew were on the ground early Monday morning and by Tuesday afternoon the debris was all cleared up. Mr. John Applegate's coal house was badly damaged and an implement shed near the track belonging to Mr. P. C. Akin was turned into kindling wood in short order. The total loss to the railroad company is about $6,000.

The Republican is of the opinion that the railroad company was too hasty in removing the remains of the dead brakeman to Cedar Rapids. His remains should have been left in Grundy Center and an inquest held by the coroner.

--The Grundy County Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 14 February 1895