Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Railroad Wreck Near Krum, 1888

The following articles were transcribed from "The Fairfield Ledger" and detail a wreck involving two trains between Krum, a small town about four miles west of Fairfield, and Batavia, about ten miles west of Fairfield, near the Rock Creek.

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, August 29, 1888
Page 3, Columns 7 and 8

COLLIDING CARS

A Terrible Wreck on the Q. and a Loss of Three Lives.

Monday evening about 5 o'clock a special engine and one car arrived at the C., B. & Q. depot in this city bearing the bodies of Dennis Griffin and Patrick Ready, two well known railroad men who had been killed in a collision on the road about an hour and a half earlier.-- This was the first intimation of a wreck that reached the general public and it occasioned no little surprise and excitement. A half hour later a Ledger reporter boarded a wrecking train from Burlington, in charge of Trainmaster Working, for the scene of the disaster, and is under obligations to that gentleman for kindly treatment, and his readiness to furnish particulars.

The collision occurred on a curve about 3 1/2 miles west of Krum, just east of Rock creek, between a construction train employed in distributing new steel rails and an extra west bound freight.-- Both trains were headed west, but the work train was backing down to Krum in order to let an express pass. Conductor Boling of the steel train had his flagman out at Krum, and Conductor Thompson of the extra and Engineer Gillespie had orders to run to Batavia for express No. 14, with instructions to look out for the work train. In some unaccountable manner they passed the flagman without seeing him. Although they say they were running slowly and whistling all the way, they came upon the other train so suddenly that they could not avert the collision. Where the two trains met it is difficult to see more than 50 yards, and men on both trains agree that they could not have been more than that distance apart when each sighted the other. There were 30 or 40 men on the work train in addition to the crew. An alarm was given and an effort was made to save themselves and their companions by those who saw the danger. But a second elapsed, however, until the two powerful and rapidly moving bodies came together with a deafening crash, the air was filled with flying irons and timbers, and all was the utmost confusion. The conductor and fireman saved themselves by jumping, while Engineer Gillespie hurled himself through a cab window. All were more or less bruised and shocked and the latter is suffering form a sprained ankle, but all the men on this train escaped serious injury. A sad fate awaited those on the construction train, however. With the train backing, the rattle and banging of the steel and tools, a caboose at one end of their train and box cars at the other, the workmen had but a brief warning of the impending danger. Some jumped and saved themselves, others reached the earth only to be crushed into it by the masses of wreckage which surrounded them, while still others were hurled into the air frightful distances and were more or less injured in the descent. A hurried examination showed that three men had met death, Gust. A. Rose of Burlington, roadmaster of the eastern division, and Dennis Griffin and Patrick Ready, both residents of this city and veterans in the employ of the company. The bodies of all three lay to the south side of the track, facing the high banks of the cut, and life was extinct when they were found. Rose was fairly buried in the debris, his body crushed and mangled, and it was not taken out until nearly three hours later. Those of the other men lay perhaps six feet from that of Rose and were reached without much difficulty. They were more or less bruised and some bones broken, but the fatal wound to each was a great hole in the rear of the head, evidently made by some flying missile. Tim Murphy, another Fairfield man, had been hurled high in the air, and his jaw frightfully bruised and torn, but it is thought now that it is not broken. Harry Hendricks of Krum, John Kennedy and others are somewhat cut and bruised, as indeed, is nearly every man on the cars near the caboose, but there were no other serious injuries.

The wreck, even two hours after the collision, was a frightful sight. Both trains must have been making good time, for slow running trains could scarcely have made such a frightful mass of wreckage. The collision occurred in a deep and narrow cut, and the number of cars ditched was variously estimated at from 10 to 13--five to seven of each train. They were crushed and broken and piled upon one another to a height of 30 feet, while the length of the entire mess was little more than that of a car. The caboose and rear flat cars of the work train were smashed into kindling wood, and the engine could barely be seen at the bottom of the ruin, most of its wheels still on the rails. Without its loss of life the sight was a terrible one, and even in railroad horrors is seldom equalled. Wrecking trains from Ottumwa and Burlington were soon on the ground, and the track was cleared for the passage of trains by midnight.

John Kennedy of this city was on the rear platform of the caboose and was one of the first men to see the approaching extra. He had more warning than most of the men, and saved himself by jumping. Joe Kimbrough, boss of the work gang, was on top of a box car, and escaped injury by prostrating himself and holding on to the footboard, the car remaining on the track. Mr. Rose was in the caboose when a cry of warning reached him, jumped from the sidedoors and was caught by the wreckage. Evidently he had endeavored after striking the ground to clamber up the bank, but was hindered by its steepness and his own size. Harry Hendricks says he was on the second car from the caboose, and sat no more than three feet from Griffin and Ready. He saw the extra engine around the curve, probably 50 yards away, gave a cry of alarm and jumped. He fell but a few feet from those unfortunate men and escaped almost unharmed. He thinks that neither of the men had time to jump, aged and slow in their movements as they were, and that they were thrown from the car and were dead when they alighted on the ground.

Mr. Rose was a married man living at Burlington, and leaves a wife and several children. He had been in the employ of the company for a number of years, and had the confidence of his superiors and the esteem of his men.

Dennis Griffin was a native of Ireland, and had been a resident of Fairfield since 1860, nearly all of that time in the employ of the road on which he met his death. He was 68 years of age, and leaves a wife and six grown children--two sons and four daughters. Mr. Griffin had lived in this country about 40 years and was a most excellent citizen. Honest, industrious and frugal, he was a kind husband and father and an estimable, kind hearted man.

Patrick Ready was also an Irishman by birth, and had lived in this city 22 years, an employe of the railroad company during nearly all that time. He was about 65 years of age, and a wife and two sons, lads of 15 and 17, survive him. Like the comrade who died with him Mr. Ready had many warm friends here. He was a soldier in the Union army, a member of Company C, 12th New York infantry, and was disabled in the service. Both men had acquired nice homes and leave their families in comfortable circumstances.

The funerals of Messrs. Griffin and Ready occurred from St. Mary's Catholic church this morning, Father Kelley conducting the services. Hundreds of people were in attendance to pay a last tribute of respect to the victims of this sad affair.

Coroner Evans empanelled a jury yesterday, Messrs. Samuel Cockley, James Eckert and Harvey J. Graham, and is making an investigation into the collision and its causes. We will give the verdict next week.

"The Fairfield Tribune"
SUPPLEMENT
Wednesday, August 29, 1888
Page 5, Columns 4 and 5

FATAL COLLISION ON THE "Q."

Patrick Ready, Dennis Griffin, and G. A. Rose Killed in a Collision Eight Miles West of Fairfield.--A Frightful Wreck Caused By a Bad Blunder or a Worse System.--The Coroner Investigating.

Late Monday evening an engine and caboose came to Fairfield bearing sad freight, the dead bodies of two of the section men from this place, and two other men badly hurt. The news of a collision beyond Krum had come over the wires, but was kept so close that no one beyond railroad men knew it. Word was sent at once to the families of the dead men and the bodies taken to the homes. The news got down town about five o'clock, and reporters were soon on the ground and learned about these facts:

A construction train consisting of some sixteen cars of steel rails was working along between Krum and Batavia, distributing the rails along the side of the track intending to take up the old rails and put in the new ones. It was about time for No. 14 (passenger) to come along so the conductor of the worktrain ordered the men on board and they started to back up to Krum and wait there for No. 14 to pass, which was about 3:15. They had hardly got under good headway when in coming around a curve just south of Rock creek, about three miles west of Krum, the men on the rear of the train saw an engine and train coming at a good rate of speed, and knowing they were coming together they jumped for their lives, just as the engine of the extra, of which they had heard nothing, was about fifty feet in front of them. The two trains came together with a terrible crash, the engine of the extra plowing her way through the caboose and three flat cars of the construction train and piling them and seven of the extra's freight cars all on top of the engine making a pile of splintered cars and rails some forty feet in height. After the first excitement was over the men rushed forward to see who were injured or killed and the lifeless bodies of patrick Ready and Dennis Griffin, of Fairfield, were found partially covered by rails and broken timbers. G. O. Rose, a roadmaster from Burlington was found to be missing and after searching for some time he was discovered under a part of the wreck nearly completely buried and dead. Men immediately set to work to dig him out and by 6:30 his body was unearthed and put on a stretcher and placed in the caboose of the wrecking train from Ottumwa. As soon as the bodies of Ready and Griffin were taken out they were sent to Fairfield and their families notified. Word was immediately telegraphed to headquarters and the wrecking trains from Ottumwa and Burlington were sent out. On the train from Burlington was Conductor O'Bryan, Tranmaster James Working, Master-mechanic Joel West and about 35 machinists and wreck hands. Superintendent Stewart, of this division was in Ottumwa at the time of the accident and came out on the Ottumwa wrecking train, and set the men to work. By 12 o'clock the track was cleared and repaired and the Burlington crew brought the wrecked engine up to Krum and side-tracked her.

Conductor Thompson, of the extra, says he thought the train was going too fast and started forward to slow up a little. He had just got to the engine cab when he saw the caboose of the work train and called to those in the cab to jump for their lives, executing the command as he uttered it. The rest followed, the engineer coming last, and received slight injuries, the engineer spraining his ankle. John Kennedy foreman of the construction gang from Fairfield says: "I was standing on the rear platform of the caboose and as we came around the curve I saw the engine of the extra coming and I jumped, calling to the rest of the boys as I did. Roadmaster Rose had just come out on the platform from the first car next to the caboose, and I do not know whether he jumped or not."

From the position that Rose was found in it would seem that he had also jumped and started to climb up the embankment but the wreck overtook him. Had he been ten seconds quicker he would have escaped with probably some slight injuries, as his head was partially out of the wreck when found. Pat Ready and Dennis Griffin, we were informed, were sitting on the first car in front of the caboose and when they saw the extra's engine it is supposed they started to jump but were not quick enough and were killed by the falling rails and cars.

Tim Murphy, section man from Fairfield, jumped from the flat car and had his jaw badly bruised and face otherwise scratched up. Harry Hendricks who was also on the second car saw the train coming and jumped safely. Joe Kimbrough, foreman of the Batavia working men, was standing on top of a box car, about the third car from the caboose, buttoning up his coat when he saw the engine coming. He did not know whether to jump or not and finally fell flat on his stomach and held fast to the walking board thus saving his life as that car was not injured.

G. O. Rose has been roadmaster of this division for some four or five years and has been in the employ of the C., B.& Q. R'y for several years elsewhere. He was about forty years of age and leaves a wife and several children, who reside in Burlington.

Dennis Griffin was a native of Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, and was sixty-eight years old. He learned the trade of a cutter in a large tailoring establishment. On June 2, 1848, he landed in New York, and two years later was married to Kate Hogan, who survives him. He came to Fairfield with the C. B. & Q. as a grade hand in 1858, and has worked for that company ever since. He has six children living: James, in Chicago; Mrs. C. H. Dobbins, at Omaha; Patrick, Mary, Kate, and Maggie, at home. Mr. Griffin was a hard working, honest, honorable man.

Patrick Ready was born in county Clare, Ireland, and was sixty years old. He came to America in 1849, and was married in Syracuse, New York, Sept. 8, 1866, to Mary Collins. In the following March they came to Fairfield, and he had work on the road as section hand ever since. He leaves his faithful wife and two sons, John and William, both at home. Mr. Ready was a soldier, a private in company C, 12th New York Infantry, the number of the regiment showing that his enlistment was in answer to the very first call. "He was as good hearted a man as ever lived," say all who knew him.

The funerals will take place at 10 o'clock A. M. to-day from the Catholic church.

An inquest was commenced at Coroner Evan's office just before noon Tuesday. Up to the closing of our report no facts materially modifying the above account had been given in testimony.

"The Fairfield Tribune"
SUPPLEMENT
Wednesday, September 5, 1888
Page 6, Columns 2, 3, and 4

THE JURY'S JUDGMENT.

An Imperfect Investigation and a Mild Verdict in the Case of the Rock Creek Wreck.

The verdict of the coronor's jury in the case of the Rock Creek accident places the blame upon Engineer Gillispie and Conductor Thompson of the freight train, but does not even censure any one, except by implication. It was perhaps as severe and comprehensive as justified by the evidence before the jury; but our own investigation leads us to believe that the examination should have been more thorough and comprehensive. When four wrecks on one road have occurred within the county in as many weeks, the one in which two citizens of our town and one of a neighboring city are slaughtered deserves a respectably thorough investigation.

Coroner Evans was in bad health and asked County Attorney Wilson to conduct the examination of witnesses. Mr. Wilson is attorney for the C., B. & Q. railroad, and this must have placed him in a very embarrassing position. We do not wish to intimate that he would intentionally slight his official duty to the county in order to lay the foundation for a defense of the railroad company in a civil suit for damages; but if he is human, and most men (even Wilsons) are, a handsome annual retainer and the prospect of a large special fee could but exert a powerful unconscious influence. It was an unfortunate position for any man to occupy and double unfortunate for the county to have a prosecutor thus hampered. It is proper to state that Mr. Wilson claims it was not his duty to look up testimony further than the coroner of jury requested, and that he was not even officially bound to attend the inquest. Wherever the fault, the investigation was flimsy, and the verdict a milk and water affair.

It will be seen from the synopsis of testimony given below that no question as to the speed of the trains was asked except of the conductors and engineers who were vitally interested in proving it as low as possible.

No testimony as to the effects of the collision, which in themselves proved a high rate of speed, was taken.

The question of how thick the trains were crowded into that six mile space between Krum and Batavia, was not raised. Yet as a matter of fact No. 14 was due at Batavia only three miles away at the moment of the collesion (sic), and No. 15, a fast passenger, was following so close from the east that the breakman on the wrecked freight was afraid he could not flag it in time.

The blame is not all on the train men by any means. Gillispie and Thompson would have side-tracked at Krum to meet No. 14 if they had not been ordered to go to Batavia. Trains are run too close together.

The matter was taken before the railroad commissioners Saturday.

A synopsis of testimony and the verdict follow:

Timothy Killfoy: Have been in the employ of the C., B. & Q. as section man for nearly thirty years; was on first or second flat car from the caboose with Ready and Griffin and other Fairfield section men when collision occurred; Rose was in caboose; do not know from personal knowledge who was responsible for the accident; jumped from the car when I saw the other train coming, and received some injuries abut the head and face.

Arthur M. Bartlett: Have been day operator and ticket seller at the C., B. & Q. station in Fairfield for five years. An extra freight bound west left Fairfield about 2:35 P.M. Aug. 27, in charge of Conductor Thompson. I delivered the conductor a copy of two orders for himself and a copy for the engineer. One order was to pass No. 24 at Agency, and the other to "Look out for Boling between Krum and Batavia;" understand such an order as the latter to mean "to have their train under control that either accident or collision may be avoided. Both these trains, being extras, were run by express orders, except that they were required to be on the lookout for all regular trains;" have no personal knowledge as to who is responsible for the accident. I know both Boling and Thompson personally, and they are both straight temperance men as far as I know.

William Henry Boling: Have been conductor on the C., B. & Q. four years; had charge of construction on Aug. 27, and was sent west from Burlington to Batavia; being an extra, was required to keep out of the way of all regular trains; was ordered to work wild between Batavia and Krum, flagging all trains; orders were from the assistant division superintendent, O. E. Stewart. It was a written order received at Batavia; and "the only order I received or acted under that day. The road master, although present on the construction train, had no authority, nor did he interfere with the operation of the train;" flagged at Krum and Batavia; was duty of flagman to signal train, and inform conductor and engineer why they were signaled; collision occurred about 3:14 P.M.; was going east into Krum to avoid No. 14; started from one-fourth mile east of mile post No. 266, and was running 8 or 10 miles an hour; discovered the other train when four or five hundred yards off; a curve and high bluff prevented my seeing it sooner; had no order concerning the train we collided with, except the general order to protect myself from all trains; think a train obeying my signal at Krum would have avoided the accident; know Thompson to be a temperate man; no nothing "derogatory" to the engineer's "being a cautious and skilful engineer, up to the time of the accident."

George Thompson: Have been conductor on the C., B. & Q. five years; was in charge of extra Aug. 27; in obedience to order I kept a sharp lookout for the train; reduced speed; was running about ten miles an hour; was in the cab on the engine at the time of the accident; went there to caution the engineer against running too fast; saw the train ahead of us on a curve a short distance only; being down grade west of Krum, the speed had increased to fifteen or eighteen miles an hour, which was, in my judgement too fast, and I went to engineer to caution him against too fast speed, telling him to slack up, which he did, slacking up to about ten miles an hour. At the time I saw the train I could not possibly prevent the collision. "I do not consider anyone personally responsible for the accident, believing it, under the circumstances, purely accidental. My engineer is named Dennis Gillispie; never knew him under the influence of liquor; don't consider him a reckless engineer; always attentive to his duties. When I spoke to him he said he was not going very fast, but obeyed my order to reduce speed. I never had reason to complain of him before this time. In my judgment I thought he was going too fast."

Thomas Condon: Was fireman on Thompson extra. We were about taking sidetrack at Krum to meet No. 14, but were signaled to come up main track, and got orders to meet No. 14 at Batavia. We were told by flagman at Krum that construction train was working between Krum and Batavia, and to keep a lookout for it. After leaving Krum speed was slackened and whistle was sounded all along the road at dfferent (sic) places. When collision took place "we were running, I suppose, at ten or twelve miles an hour; heard conductor tell engineer to reduce speed; heard no reply, but speed was reduced to about ten or twelve miles an hour; dont know whether breaks (sic) were whistled down or engines reversed."

John Welch: Engineer of construction train; had orders to work wild between Batavia and Krum and flag all trains. "I was ordered to work toward Krum." I was backing up at speed of eight or ten miles an hour; was on outside of curve [north side] and could not see other train; first I knew of it was when fireman told me to jump; "had no warning up to this of my approaching a train; did not hear any whistle or bell;" did not get off my engine, but sent flagman ahead; learning that Thompson had orders to meet No. 14 at Batavia, I then proceeded to Batavia. I attribute the accident to the character of the track, the curve and the bluff obstructing our view. When told by the fireman to jump, I reversed the engine and stepped to the left [south] side to see what was the matter. By that time we had struck. "If I had received an order as engineer of Thompson's train, or extra, to 'Look out for Boling,' I would have construed that to mean having my train under such to control as to stop within sight. That order would embrace my having complete control of my engine, each trainman at his place, feeling our way along. With a freight train with an ordinary makeup I would consider ten or twelve miles an hour too fast in approaching this train under the orders given."

Hugh O'Donnell: Fireman on construction; left West Burlington between 8 and 9 o'clock A.M. "We were working along slowly making between six and eight miles an hour, and coming near Rock creek bridge; got down off my seat to fire up; after finishing and getting up I saw the extra coming; I hallowed to engineer, 'Jack, jump; there is a fellow coming into us.' At the time I first saw the approaching train it was not more than twenty feet;" it was so close I could form no estimate of the speed it was coming. I did not jump, I heard no bell or whistle from the approaching engine.

This was the last witness examined. Several attempts were made by telegraphing the superintendent to secure the engineer of the freight, Dennis Gillispie, but he claimed to be too badly hurt. His left ankle was sprained, but, apparently when he left here, only slightly. No investigation was made as to the truth of his claim. The examination of witnesses was completed Tuesday afternoon, and the verdict filed Wednesday afternoon.

THE VERDICT.
State of Iowa, Jefferson County:

An inquest holden at Fairfield, Jefferson county, on the 28th and 29th days of August, A. D. 1888, before Thomas D. Evans, coroner of said county, upon the bodies of Dennis Griffin, Patrick Ready, and Gust. A. Rose, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed. The said jurors upon their oaths do say, that after a careful examination of the facts as they have come to our knowledge, and the examination of witnesses produced before us, find from the testimony that said Gust. A. Rose, Dennis Griffin, and Patrick Ready came to their deaths as a result of the collision upon the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy railroad between a construction train backing into Krum and a wild freight train going west, on the afternoon of August 27, 1888. Said collision taking place at a point about three miles west of Krum near Rock creek on the line of said road in Jefferson county, Iowa.

We find that those in charge of the wild freight going west did not strictly obey the orders they had received, nor use that precaution required by the rules of the company; that had they done so, the catastrophe would have been averted. We find that the wild train, after leaving Krum, had attained a speed of from sixteen to eighteen miles an hour, which, under the circumstances, we further find was reckless. We find that no blame for the accident is to be attached to those in charge of the construction train.

In testimony whereof the said jurors hereunto set their hands this 29th day of August, 1888.

JAMES ECKERT,
SAMUEL COCKLEY,
HARVEY J. GRAHAM.
Attest: Thos. D. Evans, Coroner of Jefferson county, Iowa.

THE MEN AND THE MORAL.

A Tribute to Dennis Griffin and Patrick Ready, and to Such as They, Who Hew Grand States Out of the Rough.

The funeral of Dennis Griffin and Patrick Ready, two of the victims of the recent railroad disaster near Krum, occurred on Wednesday, August 29, at St. Mary's church in this city. The service was conducted according to the solemn and beautiful ritual of the Catholic church, of which both the deceased had been members for some sixty years. Rev. Hugh B. Kelly officiated and preached a thoughtful and impressive sermon. One procession followed both coffins to the graves. The funeral was one of the largest which has occurred in Fairfield for years. Such an outpouring of the people of all creeds and classes as is only seen at rare and special times when by some great calamity the heart of the people is stirred. Both men were old citizens of this place; and few indeed are there in Fairfield who did not know personally and well honest, good-natured Dennis Griffin and quaint, inimitable, irrepressible Pat Ready. There was in almost every heart a sense of personal loss and sorrow. From those who knew them well we gain this estimate of their characters and lives:

Patrick Ready was in many respects a peculiar man. He was inclined to be distant, uncommunicative, secretive. He had many friends, but few intimates. He tended to his own business, asked no questions and answered none. No one but Patrick Ready knew Patrick Ready's affairs. About them he was as secret as the grave. And so marked was this characteristic in the man that he has gone to his grave leaving little record of his affairs behind him. Yet Patrick Ready could talk. He had in a pre-eminent degree that rich and ready wit which is found only in the native born Irishman. He never failed of an apt and quick reply; at his peculiar kind of repartee, no man in Fairfield could match him. Many a man will long remember him for some bright saying full of trenchant irony or freighted with an unexpected richness of philosophy. He had many good qualities. He had risked his life for his adopted country in the late war, and held an honorable discharge from the Union army. The old soldiers attended his funeral in a body as a mark of respect for their comrade in arms.

Dennis Griffin was of a different disposition. His nature was more open, communicative, more prone to trust and seek companionship. He warmed more toward men, and seemed to care less for keeping his secret than for sharing it with others. A more generous, tender hearted, good natured man could not be found. Thought he was unobtrusive and modest, yet he was a pleasant companion. He had a merry twinkle in his talk, a dash and sparkle in his reply which showed him a true son of Erin. He had the wit, only it was less flash and more shine, not so dazzling, but warmer. He was devoted to his family. For them no sacrifice was too great. He took them into his confidence, shared with them every fruit of his toil, every joy and hope.

Both men were strictly honest, industrious and frugal. They had for many years worked side by side through shower and shine. Hard, constant, uncomplaining, honest toil was their through all their days. They died at their posts and in the harness. Both left comfortable homesteads and neither left a cent of debt unprovided for. They were in a sense representatives of that great host who in the famine years and later were driven by the English tyranny from the land of their birth to find new homes in this land of their dreams. Right royally they set themselves to the work which their hands found to do. They were of those who hewed these now great states out of the rough. They were builders and preservers. Their adopted country has been the gainer by their coming. Their lives of frugal toil and loyal citizenship are the best proof that those speak falsely who in order to excuse the tyranny of England declare that the Irish are idle and lawless. While we have such men for neighbors, or while the memory of their quiet, earnest lives is kept among us, we will not listed to the smooth tongued slanderers, neither will we cease to send the word of cheer and offer the prayer of hope for the land which has given us millions of such citizens.

To the families of these men we feel how powerless we are to offer words of comfort. We can only bear witness to the regret and sympathy which is universal in this community. Of the men themselves we know nothing which will more nearly express the wish of all than the words of the burial service: "May they rest in peace."